Thailand: Acanthamoeba parasite linked to outbreak affecting hundreds in Bangkok condo
The Thailand Department of Disease Control (DDC) recently issued a health alert after some 200 residents in a condominium complex in the Lardphrao area in Bangkok suffered from eye infections like conjunctivitis due to a Acanthamoeba spp. tainted water supply.
Dr Apichat Wachiraparn, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, expressed his concern about the situation. He explained that Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic pathogen commonly found in various environmental sources such as water, soil, and dust. Although infections are rare, they can affect anyone.
A spokesperson for The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said that initial investigations on June 14 found no chlorine residue in the building’s water tanks, failing to meet standard requirements for tap water.
Acanthamoeba is a microscopic, free-living amoeba (single-celled living organism), that can cause rare, but severe infections of the eye, skin, and central nervous system.
The amoeba can be spread to the eyes through contact lens use, cuts, or skin wounds or by being inhaled into the lungs. Most people will be exposed to Acanthamoeba during their lifetime, but very few will become sick from this exposure.
Acanthamoeba strains can cause acanthamoebic keratitis, which may lead to corneal ulcers or even blindness. This condition occurs most often among contact lens wearers who do not properly disinfect their lenses, exacerbated by a failure to wash hands prior to handling the lenses.
Dr Wachiraparn said prevention and treatment of corneal infections can be done by washing hands thoroughly, especially before touching the eyes. Avoid rubbing your eyes because it can spread germs to your eyes.
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Use clean water for consumption. Avoid using swimming pools that are not properly maintained.
Avoid being near or sharing things with people who have pink eye because it can easily spread.
For those who wear contact lenses, maintaining the cleanliness of your contact lenses is very important. Avoid using tap water or fresh water to wash your lenses. This germ is destroyed by adding chlorine to leave a free chlorine level of no less than 0.2 parts per million (ppm). You should seek medical treatment for a correct diagnosis.