(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Kerala is facing a worrying rise in cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and deadly brain infection from the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Health officials in the southern Indian state report 80 confirmed cases and 21 deaths so far.
On Tuesday, Kerala Health Minister Veena George explained the spike to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. She credited better detection efforts that started in 2023, when the state began investigating every encephalitis case to pinpoint its cause. “We don’t always know what’s behind these brain infections, but early detection helps save lives,” George said. The state now runs its own testing labs with PCR tests to spot the amoeba quickly. In 2024, they released technical guidelines pushing for faster diagnosis, treatment, and prevention steps like chlorinating water sources.
This infection mainly comes from Naegleria fowleri, but Kerala has also seen cases linked to other amoebas like Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba. It spreads when contaminated freshwater enters the nose—often during swimming or bathing in ponds, lakes, or rivers. Doctors stress avoiding these activities to stay safe.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor voiced serious concerns about the Naegleria fowleri outbreak in Kerala. Speaking to , he called it a “very sad story” and urged people to skip swimming in freshwater. “A lot of folks have caught this fatal infection that way, and it seems really dangerous,” Tharoor said. Some doctors recommend holding off on freshwater swims until experts find better safeguards. He added that seawater, tap water at home, and chlorinated pools are generally safe, but natural untreated waters pose a real risk from the amoeba.
To fight back, Kerala has launched public awareness drives and large-scale chlorination campaigns for local water bodies. The state is teaming up with groups like the National Institute of Epidemiology and the Indian Institute of Science for more research on amoebic meningoencephalitis prevention.
Early signs mimic bacterial meningitis, with headaches, fever, and stiff neck. If you spot these symptoms after freshwater exposure, seek medical help right away—quick action boosts survival chances against this brain-eating amoeba.
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