Washington. Increasing global warming and rapidly changing environment have created a new and serious health crisis for the world. Scientists say that due to climate change, the deadly brain eating amoeba has now started spreading to areas where its name was not even heard before. Weak water-supply systems and inadequate monitoring add to this threat.

Climate change is no longer limited to just abnormal weather fluctuations. According to scientists, due to the continuous warming of the earth, such microorganisms are getting the opportunity to flourish in new areas, which were earlier found only in limited areas. Free-living amoebas that inhabit water, soil and moist environments, colloquially known as ‘brain-eating amoebas’, are becoming an emerging threat to global health. A new international study warns that climate change, coupled with aging water supply infrastructure and weak monitoring systems, are accelerating the spread of these dangerous microorganisms.

warming earth and expanding range
Scientists say that as the earth’s temperature is increasing, amoebas that like warm water are reaching areas where earlier they were considered rare. In recent years, cases of infection to it have been reported in water bodies used for recreation in many countries, which has increased the concern of the general public and raised new questions on water safety.

stamina and ability to survive
According to the study published in the journal Biocontaminants, the biggest strength of these amoebas is their extraordinary endurance. They can survive even in conditions where other germs are destroyed. Extreme heat, disinfectants like chlorine, and even safe water pipelines cannot kill them. This is the reason why they can survive in water supply systems for a long time and remain undetected. Amoebas are single-celled organisms found in soil and water. While there are approximately 30 to 40 lakh crore cells in the human body, amoeba has only one cell. With the help of this single cell, this organism searches for food, absorbs it, digests it and then expels it out in the form of waste.

direction of solution
To deal with this growing crisis, scientists are emphasizing on adopting One Health approach. In this approach, human health, environmental science and water management are seen together.