Brain-Eating Amoeba Claims 19 Lives in India

Darwin, September 20 — Health authorities in India’s Kerala state are on high alert following a surge in cases of a deadly brain infection known as Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). The infection is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba commonly referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba.”

According to NDTV, a total of 69 cases have been reported in Kerala so far this year, with 19 deaths, most of which have occurred in recent weeks.

Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George stated that the state is facing a serious public health crisis. While earlier infections were confined to the districts of Kozhikode and Malappuram, cases are now appearing sporadically across the state. The ages of those infected range from three months to 91 years.

“In contrast to last year, there is no single water source linked to a cluster of cases. These are isolated infections, which makes tracing the source more difficult,” said the minister.

What is PAM?

According to official documents from the Kerala government, PAM destroys brain tissue and causes severe brain swelling, which is almost always fatal. The disease is rare and typically affects otherwise healthy children, teenagers, and young adults. The primary source is warm, stagnant, and freshwater bodies that are often contaminated.

The amoeba enters the body through the nose and travels directly to the brain. Drinking contaminated water does not cause the disease.

Symptoms and Risk Factors

Symptoms of PAM resemble those of bacterial meningitis, including headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. It usually takes 1 to 9 days for symptoms to appear, and the condition deteriorates rapidly.

Most patients have a history of swimming or bathing in warm, stagnant freshwater. People often seek treatment too late—after significant brain swelling has already occurred.

Treatment

In the past 60 years, only a few people worldwide have survived PAM. Almost all survivors were diagnosed at an early stage. Early detection and timely administration of specific medications are seen as the only hope of survival.

However, because the disease is rare, progresses quickly, and is difficult to test for, providing effective treatment remains a major challenge.

Kerala’s Situation

Between 2016 and 2023, only eight PAM cases were reported in Kerala. But in 2023 alone, 36 cases were recorded, with nine deaths. So far in 2024, 69 cases and 19 deaths have been reported—almost double the previous year’s total.

To prevent new infections, the Kerala government has issued public advisories urging citizens not to swim or bathe in stagnant or untreated water. People who do swim are advised to use nose clips, and wells and water tanks should be cleaned and chlorinated regularly.

Additionally, the state health department, in collaboration with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), is collecting environmental samples to trace the potential sources of contamination.