Kerala Confirms 66 Cases of Amebic Meningoencephalitis with 17 Deaths; Surveillance and Testing Intensified

Kerala’s Health Department has revised its data on Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), reporting 17 deaths and 66 confirmed infections from the deadly “brain-eating amoeba” so far this year. The outbreak has intensified public health vigilance since two new cases and seven deaths occurred in September alone, prompting officials to scale up surveillance, testing, and environmental monitoring across affected districts.

PAM is caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, which typically infects individuals when contaminated freshwater enters the nose, commonly during swimming or bathing in ponds, rivers, and poorly chlorinated pools. However, recent cases—including infants and those exposed only to household water—have raised doubts about previously accepted transmission routes, driving fears of broader environmental risk and possible unknown infection pathways.

Kerala’s fatality rate from PAM this year stands at approximately 24%, far lower than the global average of 97–98%—a result attributed to increased awareness, rapid treatment, and aggressive local intervention campaigns. State health officials have launched urgent public advisories urging citizens to avoid untreated water sources, maintain strict chlorination practices, and seek immediate medical attention for neurological symptoms following freshwater exposure.

The outbreak has triggered coordinated responses, including fever surveys, water sampling, environmental chlorination, and mass awareness programs. District hospitals remain on high alert, with experts warning that the rarity and lethality of the infection demand ongoing surveillance and rapid treatment capabilities statewide.