Brain-Eating Amoeba Threat in Kerala During Summer Season: What Alert Health Department Has Issued, Do Not Ignore These Symptoms
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's Health Minister, Veena George, has issued a high alert in view of the potential rise in cases of 'Amoebic Meningoencephalitis' during the summer season. She has urged citizens to exercise extreme caution when utilizing water sources.
The Health Minister has warned that bathing or washing one's face in contaminated water must be strictly avoided, as this infection is linked to unsafe and poorly maintained water bodies. Government departments have been directed to intensify water quality monitoring in public areas and to ensure the regular cleaning and chlorination of wells, storage tanks, and swimming pools.
This disease is caused by microorganisms such as *Naegleria fowleri*—often referred to as the "brain-eating amoeba"—and *Acanthamoeba*. These organisms thrive in warm, stagnant water and enter the human body through the nose, directly affecting the brain.
Do not ignore these symptoms, caution health officials
Health officials have cautioned that symptoms such as sudden high fever, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, and loss of consciousness should not be ignored, as the disease can rapidly turn fatal. The Health Department has instructed hospitals to investigate suspected cases.
Although the global mortality rate for this infection exceeds 90 percent, Kerala has succeeded in reducing it to approximately 24 percent through early detection and specialized treatment.
The state has developed a dedicated treatment protocol. Emphasizing the importance of prevention, the Health Minister urged people to avoid contact with untreated water and to ensure the cleanliness of water sources, noting that awareness and prompt treatment are the keys to saving lives.