Kerala: Rare brain disease kills 27-year-old after bathing in pond
A 27-year-old man in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram died from a rare, often fatal, brain disease called amoebic meningoencephalitis. The man, identified as Akhil, was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) with fever and encephalitis on July 23. Health authorities confirmed that his death was due to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba.
Four others from same locality also hospitalized
Reportedly, four others from the same locality of Nellimoodu in Neyyattinkara taluk have also been hospitalized at MCH after testing positive for PAM. All five individuals had a common history of entering a mossy green pond with stagnant water. Water samples from this pond have been collected for analysis by the Health Department, which has also issued a warning against entering the water.
Over 10 PAM cases reported in Kerala in three months
Despite being considered rare, Kerala has reported over 10 cases of PAM in the past three months from districts including Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Thrissur, and Thiruvananthapuram. Swimmers are advised to use nasal clips to prevent water from entering the nose, as the amoeba attaches to the mucosal membrane of the nasal cavity. Symptoms of PAM—which typically develop within one to nine days—include headache, fever, nausea, or difficulty turning the head. Immediate medical attention is recommended if these symptoms appear.
Health department issues warning
The State Rapid Response Team (RRT) of the Health Department has reiterated warnings against entering stagnant water bodies. They have advised extreme caution while washing or bathing cattle in such waters to avoid splashing water on the face. Public health officials maintain that increased reporting of PAM cases is an indication of diligent investigation and diagnosis of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) cases with unknown etiology.
