Brain-eating amoeba | Kerala reports fifth amoebic meningoencephalitis death in a month

Kerala reported the fifth death due to amoebic meningoencephalitis in a month as a Malappuram native undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, died on Monday (September 8, 2025).

According to sources, Sobhana, 56, from Thiruvali near Wandoor in Malappuram district, was admitted to the hospital last week. She had been in a critical condition since then.

Since August 14, four people in the State have died from the infection, and this marks the fifth fatality.

The sources said that 11 persons are at present undergoing treatment for the disease at the Kozhikode MCH, and the condition of at least one of them is reported to be serious.

Ratheesh, 45, a native of Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district, who had been undergoing treatment at Kozhikode MCH, succumbed to the infection on September 6, 2025.

Amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but fatal brain infection caused by free-living amoebae found in freshwater, lakes and rivers, has emerged as a public health concern in Kerala.