At least seven persons are under treatment for amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare brain infection, at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode, even as reports emerged that different types of amoeba could be the cause of the recent infections reported in Kerala.
According to hospital sources, a three-month-old from Omassery, a seven-year-old boy from Thamarassery (both in Kozhikode), and a 12-year-old girl from Chelari in Malappuram are at the Institute of Maternal and Child Health wing of the hospital. A 42-year-old from Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad, a 55-year-old woman from Karumarappatta, a 49-year-old man from Malappuram, and a 40-year-old man from Annassery in Kozhikode are undergoing treatment the MCH block. Anaya, the sister of the seven-year-old boy, had died earlier due to the infection. One of her other siblings is also under observation now.
Naegleria fowleri, also known as ‘brain-eating amoeba’, was found to have been causing the infections reported in the State since 2016. People get infected when they swim or take a bath in stagnant waters as the free-living organism is normally found in such waterbodies. The amoeba enters the body through the nose and reaches the brain. Children could be more vulnerable as their cribriform plate, which separates the nasal cavity and the skull, has more porous openings compared with adults. Another route of the infection is through the ear. Most infections reported in previous years had happened during the summer as well.
However, the Health department has reportedly found that in the past two years, infections are being reported in non-summer months as well. Between five to 10 cases each were reported in July, August, September, and October last year. This prompted Health officials to check if other types of amoeba could also be causing the infections. Soil-dwelling strains such as balamuthia mandrillaris are already present in Kerala’s atmosphere. The department is reportedly planning to conduct more studies on this. Miltefosine, an anti-parasitic drug, is being used for treatment now, and doctors claim that it could be effective for both types of the amoeba.
Published – August 23, 2025 10:15 pm IST
