Why is the survival rate from brain eating amoeba so low?

Another reason is that the infection is rare, so doctors have little experience in treating it. Even advanced antifungal and antimicrobial drugs don’t work well once the brain is severely affected.

There are two main reasons: 1. Late diagnosis. Early symptoms look like common meningitis or flu, so doctors don’t suspect Naegleria quickly. 2. Fast disease progression. Once it reaches the brain, it destroys tissue rapidly. By the time treatment starts, it is usually too late.