Death of nine-year-old girl due to amoebic meningoencephalitis: Neighbour says girl used to bathe in pond

THAMARASSERY: More details have come out regarding the death of Anaya (9), who died from amoebic meningoencephalitis in Kozhikode. A neighbour said that the child used to bathe in a pond near her home. Locals said she last used the pond about two weeks ago. They added that children are warned not to bathe when the water is still. The pond is used by locals for bathing and by children for swimming practice. According to the locals, the pond holds stagnant water only during the rainy season.

Anaya, daughter of Sanoop from Anappara Poyil in Thamarassery, died on Thursday. She was admitted to the Thamarassery Taluk Hospital after she developed a fever and vomiting. She was later shifted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, where she died while undergoing treatment. Her family alleged that she did not get proper treatment. Two of her siblings and a classmate are being treated for fever. Tests at the Medical College microbiology lab confirmed the presence of amoebic meningoencephalitis.

The disease is rare and occurs in people who swim in stagnant water. It is caused when amoeba such as 'Naegleria fowleri', 'Acanthamoeba', 'Sappinia', or 'Balamuthia mandrillaris' infect the brain. The infection can spread through tiny openings near the nose or the eardrum. Amoebic meningoencephalitis is a highly deadly disease with a mortality rate exceeding 97%.