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Kerala is battling a deadly health scare as 19 people have died this year due to Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, often called the “brain-eating amoeba.” The state has already recorded 61 confirmed cases in 2025, a sharp spike compared to previous years, prompting health authorities to go on high alert.
What Is PAM?
PAM affects the central nervous system, destroying brain tissue and causing severe swelling that is usually fatal. The amoeba thrives in warm, stagnant freshwater. Infection occurs when contaminated water enters the nose, allowing the parasite to travel to the brain. Drinking such water does not cause illness.
Rising Cases Across Kerala
Health Minister Veena George confirmed that infections are no longer restricted to clusters but are appearing as isolated cases across districts. Patients range from infants to the elderly, complicating tracking efforts. Experts warn that rising temperatures and increased freshwater use due to climate change may fuel more cases.
Symptoms and Risks
PAM symptoms, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting mimic bacterial meningitis, making diagnosis difficult. The disease progresses rapidly, often within days of exposure, leading to death. Most patients have a history of swimming, diving, or bathing in untreated freshwater sources.
Treatment and Prevention
Survival depends on early diagnosis and immediate treatment with strong antimicrobial drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Authorities advise avoiding untreated water bodies, using nose clips while swimming, and ensuring wells and tanks are cleaned and chlorinated.
Kerala’s Battle Ahead
Since its first case in 2016, Kerala has seen an alarming rise in infections—just eight cases till 2023, but 36 cases in 2024 and now 61 this year. Officials stress that awareness and prevention remain the strongest shields against this deadly pathogen.
