Concern over amoebic encephalitis; Nine under treatment in Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE: The doctors said the health condition of the 13-year-old of Malappuram, confirmed to have amoebic encephalitis the other day, is satisfactory. Nine people are presently undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

People from Malappuram, Palakkad and Kozhikode are under treatment at Kozhikode Medical College. One from Ramanattukara confirmed to have the disease is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode. Seven people have died of amoebic encephalitis in the past one and a half months.

The health department and the district administration are on high alert following the death of Rahim (59) of Chavakkad, who was undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Government Medical College yesterday due to brain eating infection. The meet chaired by Collector Arjun Pandian has decided to chlorinate all drinking water sources in the district. A mass chlorination campaign will be conducted in the district on September 27th and 28th. Bleaching powder and pamphlets will be distributed to every house. The decision is to intensify the preventive measures being taken in the district to prevent the spread of the disease.

Awareness classes on the causes of amoebic encephalitis will be held in schools in cooperation with the health department. The authorities have also informed that facilities will be provided for students to bring water from their homes and test it in the labs of all higher secondary schools that have water testing labs.