Amoebic meningoencephalitis claims yet another life in Kerala; two children diagnosed with disease

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Fresh concern has arisen in Kerala over cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis, with one person dying and two children testing positive for the infection on Monday. The deceased has been identified as a man from Kollam. The infected children- a three-and-a-half-year-old boy from Kannur and a six-year-old boy from Kasaragod- are undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. Hospital authorities said both children are in stable condition. Over the past one and a half months, 15 people in the state have died from amoebic meningoencephalitis, raising alarm among health officials.

Meanwhile, a 62-year-old man from Kodumbu panchayat in Palakkad tested positive for the disease on Sunday. He had initially sought treatment at the Koduvayur Community Health Centre on October 5 and was later referred to the district hospital. Preliminary tests conducted on October 6 indicated the infection, which was confirmed two days later. He was subsequently shifted to Thrissur Medical College, where he remains in critical condition on ventilator support. The exact source of the infection has not yet been identified. Water samples from five sources have been collected for testing, and the health department has intensified surveillance and inspections in the affected area.