Kerala’s assembly is gearing up for a heated discussion on Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), the rare brain infection that’s already claimed 19 lives in the state this year. Opposition parties have been pushing hard for this debate, and it looks like the government is ready to address the growing concerns.
The session kicks off at noon today after Mannarkkad MLA N Shamsudheen filed an adjournment motion. He slammed the state government for lacking strong steps to fight PAM, pointing to deaths like that of Latha Kumari from Muttathara in Thiruvananthapuram. “Despite these tragedies, the government isn’t doing enough to prevent such diseases,” his notice stated.
Health Minister Veena George agreed to the discussion but fired back at what she called “false propaganda” spreading panic about public health in Kerala. Speaking to , she clarified the latest numbers: 69 PAM cases reported so far in 2025, with 19 fatalities. “These are single cases, not clusters,” she said. “We did see clusters in 2024 from a shared water source, but nothing like that this year.”
PAM, also known as naegleriasis, hits the brain hard, caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba lurking in warm freshwater bodies like ponds and lakes. Symptoms strike fast—think severe headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, and seizures. It’s rare but often deadly, and Kerala’s cases this year span ages from just 3 months to 91 years, affecting 33 males and 19 females.
The infections have popped up across districts in August and September 2025, echoing last year’s reports from Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Kannur. Authorities from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Kerala’s Health Department are keeping a close watch to tackle this threat head-on.
As Kerala battles these PAM cases, the assembly debate could bring fresh insights and push for better prevention measures. Stay tuned for updates on how the state plans to protect its people from this silent killer in the water.
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