A brain-eating amoeba. Death rate did not increase in Kerala

The rare case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba, has a global mortality rate of 97 percent. But despite being widely reported, the death rate of this disease in Kerala is 26 percent.

The reasons behind this are considered to be the vigilance of Kerala’s medical community and public, intensive investigations and standard operating procedures followed by the public health system.
Amoebic meningoencephalitis is caused by an amoeba called Naegleria folieri, which is found in water and soil and infects the brain through the nose. According to the data submitted by the State Health Minister Veena George in the Legislative Assembly, 29 PAM cases were reported in Kerala in 2024. Five of them died. Between 2016 and 2023, there were just eight cases, with 29 cases recorded so far this year. PAM cases were reported in six districts. Of these, 15 cases are from the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. 24 out of 29 people infected with PAM in Kerala have recovered. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the 164 cases of PAM reported in the United States between 1962 and 2023, only four people survived the disease.

All the cases of PAM reported in India were initially fatal. But in July this year, 14-year-old Afanan Jasim from Tikodi in Kozhikode district was cured. Afanan is the 11th PAM free person in the world.

In July, Kerala announced a special treatment protocol and standard operating procedures for cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis. Kerala is the first Indian state to do this. An article published in the Indian Express points out that the guidelines announced by the Kerala Health Department for the control, diagnosis and treatment of PAM have led to a breakthrough in the state’s fight against this amoeba.