Kerala reports first amoebic meningoencephalitis case in Kochi; Health officials on alert

Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 2: Kerala health authorities have confirmed the first case of amoebic meningoencephalitis in Kochi, after a 25-year-old woman from Lakshadweep tested positive for the rare and often fatal brain infection.

The patient, who lives in a city hostel, is currently being treated at a private hospital and is said to be in a stable condition, according to state health officials.

She was initially admitted with fever and headache, and although early tests for the disease came back negative, a third wet-mount microscopic examination detected the presence of the amoeba.

“She is stable and showing signs of recovery. We have learned that she recently visited a resort, but we are still verifying the exact timeline to determine the incubation period,” a Health Department official said.

The case has heightened concern amid a surge of infections across Kerala, which has recorded 153 cases and 33 deaths linked to amoebic meningoencephalitis so far this year. The latest fatality was a 65-year-old woman from Kollam district.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is conducting an in-depth study into the outbreak, focusing on identifying sources and patterns of transmission. Surveys are being carried out in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kollam.

Health experts noted a sharp spike in cases during October, with 65 new infections confirmed that month alone.

Amoebic meningoencephalitis is caused by free-living amoebae—typically found in contaminated ponds, lakes, and untreated water—that can enter the body through open wounds or nasal passages.

The Kerala Health Department has revised its public advisory, warning elderly and immunocompromised individuals to avoid washing wounds or feet in contaminated water.

Investigations into earlier cases found that several patients had used pond water to clean wounds. Studies have also identified multiple species of Acanthamoeba in infected individuals’ brains, lungs, skin, and eyes.

While the environmental source in the Kochi case remains under investigation, officials have urged the public to maintain strict personal hygiene and avoid direct contact with untreated water sources, especially during the post-monsoon season when infections tend to rise.