New Delhi: The Central Government asked Keral’s authorities to intensify the monitoring after the state reported an increase in the case of a rare amoeba consuming the brain. According to the Minister of Health, Keral Veen George, the state recorded 80 cases and 21 deaths in 2025.
The first case of amoeba (Naegleria Fowleri) in Kerala was reported in 2016, but the state has seen a sharp increase in infections in recent years. After two fatal cases in 2023, Kerala announced 36 cases with nine deaths in 2024 – this year’s record increase.
At a meeting with civil servants last week, the Center emphasized the need for increased supervision and wider sampling, two officials said.
The disease, called the primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), is caused by the Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoemate that enters the body through the nose – often during diving or jumping into stagnant water – before attacking brain tissue. It’s almost always fatal.
As part of its counseling, the government urged the public to avoid diving or jumping into stagnant freshwater, such as ponds and lakes, where amoeba thrives in warm and still conditions.
Dr. Rajiv Bhal, Secretary of the Ministry of Health Research, chaired the meeting with the state authorities, one of the above officials said. Experts from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), NIV PUNE, PGI Chandigarh and higher officials of the Ministry of Health participated.
“The immediate priority is to increase monitoring and ensure that all samples are sent to these laboratories for testing, including NIV PUNE and PGI Chandigarh. The integrated program supervision program actively monitors the situation,” the official said.
Alert of public health
Despite a relatively small number of cases, high mortality is an urgent problem in public health. Experts are investigating why amoeba emerges in Kerala and their findings could lead to future prevention throughout the country.
The worldwide US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports almost 100% mortality for PAM. Mortality in India is approximately 25%significantly lower due to improved detection and rapid response systems, another official said.
Questions sent to the Ministry of Health remained unanswered until the press. Keraly also did not answer questions.
“The government knows the main cause of the infection. But Amoeba can be found in any freshwater body. This is concerns about public health that other states should also be acknowledged, and accept a similar proactive approach that contains any potential dissemination,” the second official said.
The health authorities are now focusing on prevention and timely detection. “The government also sensitized private and government medical facilities to maintain a high” index of suspicion. “When a patient comes with suspicious symptoms, they should be an immediate reaction to report and explore the case,” the official said. The aim is to detect every case, even if they are rare events.
Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, a public health expert and former president of the IMA Cochin chapter, noted that most cases of encephalitis are bacterial or viral, while amoeba, mushrooms and parasites are responsible for a small fraction. In India, the cause remains often unidentified.
“Hundreds of types of wild amoeba live naturally in water and soil, of which only a handful causes human brain infection. Infection occurs when this amoeba enters the brain through the nose.
He added that the recent practice of kerals in spinal cord testing to amoeba has predictably increased detection. Early treatment reduced mortality to approximately 30%. Because amoeba can temporarily move to a durable cyst, they cannot be completely excluded. The best protection is simple: Avoid pushing the water into your nose and keep the pools properly.
(tagstotranslate) brain eating amoeba kerala
