Kerala Faces Fifth Amoebic Encephalitis Death in a Month

Kozhikode: A 56-year-old woman from Thiruvali near Wandoor in Malappuram district has died from primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, marking the fifth fatality from this rare brain infection in Kerala within a month, health officials confirmed on Monday. The victim, Shobhana, passed away at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH), where she was admitted last week in critical condition, according to hospital authorities cited.

The infection, caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba,” is contracted through exposure to contaminated freshwater sources such as ponds, lakes, or wells. The amoeba enters the body through the nose, often during swimming or bathing, and travels to the brain, causing severe tissue damage and swelling. Symptoms, which typically appear within 5 to 10 days, include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. With a global fatality rate of 97%, the infection is both rare and deadly.

Kerala has reported 42 confirmed cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis this year, primarily in Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts. Currently, 11 patients are receiving treatment at Kozhikode MCH, where diagnostic capabilities have been enhanced to address the outbreak. On September 6, a 45-year-old man from Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad succumbed to the infection, following two deaths in late August, including a three-month-old infant.

In response, the Kerala Health Department has intensified preventive measures, including statewide water purification efforts. The “Water is Life” campaign, led by the Haritha Keralam Mission, focuses on chlorinating wells and cleaning water tanks to curb the spread of the amoeba. Health officials have also issued advisories urging the public to avoid swimming in stagnant water and to seek immediate medical attention for symptoms following freshwater exposure. The state has invoked the Public Health Act to bolster these efforts, as authorities work to contain the rising threat.