Kerala reports two more deaths from brain-eating amoeba, toll rises to 3 in August

Two people, including a three-month-old infant, died while undergoing treatment for amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and often fatal brain infection, at Kerala’s Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, health officials said on Monday.

With these deaths, the toll from the infection in Kerala has risen to three in August.

The infant, son of Abubacker Siddique from Omassery in Kozhikode district, had been receiving treatment for a month before his condition worsened on Sunday, leading to his death in the ICU.

The other victim, identified as 52-year-old Ramla from Kappil in Malappuram district, developed symptoms on July 8. She was first admitted to a private hospital before being shifted to Kozhikode Medical College as her condition deteriorated.

Earlier, on August 14, a nine-year-old girl from Thamarassery had died of the same infection at the same hospital.

According to health officials, eight other patients from Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts are currently under treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

Amoebic meningoencephalitis is primarily contracted through swimming or bathing in contaminated water. So far, 42 cases have been reported across Kerala this year.

In response to the recurring cases, the Health Department has begun chlorination of wells and water storage tanks in Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Malappuram districts. Awareness campaigns are also underway to prevent further infections, officials added.

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