Two More Lives Lost To Amoebic Meningoencephalitis In Kerala
Kozhikode, Kerala: Amoebic meningoencephalitis resulted in the loss of two more lives at Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode on Sunday (August 31, 2025). The deceased were identified as Ramla, a 52-year-old woman from Kannamangalam in Malappuram District, and a three-month-old boy from Omassery in Kozhikode district.
The deceased infant had been receiving treatment at the hospital for nearly a month. On Sunday (August 31), his condition worsened, and he died at around 11 pm in the intensive care unit (ICU). According to reports, he is suspected to have contracted the disease from the well water regularly used at home.
Also Read | Alarming: Fourth Case Of Brain-Eating Amoeba Reported In Kerala After Third Death
Ramla began treatment on July 8 after showing symptoms of amoebic meningoencephalitis. On August 4, as her condition worsened, she was transferred to the Medical College and then to the ICU. The next day, she showed signs of recovery and was moved to the ward. However, her condition deteriorated again on August 26, and she passed away early Sunday morning.
Amoebic Meningoencephalitis is raising a serious crisis across the state, prompting urgent intervention from authorities. So far this year, Kerala has reported 42 cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis. The most affected districts, according to reports, are Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Amoebic meningoencephalitis is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living, brain-eating amoeba that is commonly found in stagnant water, soil, and at the bottom of water bodies like freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers. The tiny organism enters the body through the nose and then travels to the brain, inflicting damage to brain cells within a short period.
