Condition of Infected Boy Critical, NUDCH Working with Diagnosis of Naegleriasis

Bratislava, 16 June (TASR) - The condition of a boy who was admitted into hospital by the National Institute of Childhood Diseases (NUDCH) in Bratislava due to an infection is critical, with doctors working with a diagnosis called naegleriasis, TASR was told by spokeswoman for the institute Dana Kamenicka on Monday. "The child remains in hospital at the National Institute of Childhood Diseases and is undergoing comprehensive treatment, but his condition is critical. We're working with a diagnosis of naegleriasis, with the causative agent of the disease being a certain type of naegleria," said the spokeswoman. Naegleriasis, or primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, is a rare disease of the central nervous system caused by the free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri. It is an organism that is commonly found in various types of freshwater environments as well as in soil. As a precaution, the Regional Public Health Office in Nove Zamky (Nitra region) ordered the Vadas swimming pool in Sturovo (Nitra region), which the boy visited at the beginning of June, to close as of Sunday (15 June). It is not yet clear where the boy became infected, however. am/df