Kerala, India – A rare and serious brain infection, amoebic meningoencephalitis, has been identified in a 14-year-old boy from Payyoli in Northern Kerala. The infection, caused by a free-living amoeba found in polluted waters, has put the boy under treatment at a private hospital, where doctors report his condition is improving.
This marks the fourth reported case of this rare infection in Kerala since May, all involving children. Tragically, three of these cases have resulted in fatalities.
The most recent fatality involved a 14-year-old boy from Kozhikode, who succumbed to the infection last Wednesday. Earlier victims included a five-year-old girl from Malappuram, who passed away on May 21, and a 13-year-old girl from Kannur, who died on June 25.
In response to this alarming spike in cases, Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, convened a meeting to discuss preventive measures. The recommendations included avoiding bathing in contaminated water bodies, ensuring proper chlorination of swimming pools, and using swimming nose clips to prevent amoebae from entering through the nasal passages.
Medical experts emphasize that the infection occurs when non-parasitic amoebae enter the body through the nose from polluted water sources. Rapid identification and immediate treatment, involving imported medications in these cases, are crucial for managing the infection.
The state continues to remain vigilant, stressing the importance of maintaining cleanliness in water bodies to prevent further outbreaks of this rare but deadly infection.