Kerala Assembly Erupts in Heated Debate Over Amoebic Brain Fever Outbreak
The Kerala Assembly turned chaotic on Wednesday, marking the second straight day of stormy sessions. The trigger? An Opposition motion on the deadly amoebic meningoencephalitis, or brain fever, which sparked a fiery clash between ruling and Opposition members.
Congress MLA N. Shamsudheen kicked off the motion with strong accusations against the government. He slammed them for mishandling the rare disease and fumbling to track its source. "The minister hides the real death numbers and blames the old UDF government," Shamsudheen said. "Our health system is crumbling. Even with a captain at the helm, the ship has sunk."
Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan piled on, highlighting Kerala’s alarming spike in cases. "This amoebic brain fever has popped up worldwide since 1965 with just 500 cases total. But Kerala has seen over 120, including 68 this year alone," he pointed out. Satheesan added that eight people died in the last 15 days, with 69 cases and 19 deaths in 2024 so far. Even a four-month-old baby fell victim. "We lack a clear treatment protocol or prevention steps. Is it from dirty water, swimming pools, or wells? The government must answer these questions and call in experts or Central help if needed," he urged.
Health Minister Veena George fired back, defending Kerala’s efforts. She explained that amoebic brain fever is super rare and can strike anywhere. "We’ve ensured quick diagnosis and treatment," George said. "In 2024, we even rolled out specific guidelines for handling it." She boasted about Kerala’s track record, like tackling the Nipah outbreak, and touted new upgrades such as cath labs and advanced units in government hospitals. "Our public health system stays strong," she added.
Ruling LDF members backed George, slamming the Opposition for personal jabs. They called out Congress hypocrisy, referencing suspended MLA Rahul Mamkootathil’s issues. MLA K.U. Janeesh Kumar joked, "Some folks need paracetamol and cetrizine just to sleep." T.A. Madhusoodanan chimed in, "Attacking the minister won’t shake the government."
This intense showdown shows how the amoebic brain fever outbreak has fueled health worries across Kerala while widening the political rift. The ruling side stood firm to protect the Health Minister as the Opposition ramped up its criticism.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
