Health authorities in Kozhikode are on high alert after confirming a new case of amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but often fatal brain infection. The patient, a 43-year-old woman from Perumanna, is undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH).
This brings the number of patients at MCH to 10, including six from Kozhikode and others from Malappuram and Wayanad. The infection source has not been traced, prompting Perumanna panchayat to ban entry and bathing in local ponds and water bodies.
Kerala has reported 42 cases of the disease this year, with 19 patients still receiving treatment across different hospitals. In response, the health department has intensified awareness drives and preventive actions.
The state has rolled out the “Water is Life” campaign, involving local bodies, health and water resources departments, and the Haritha Keralam Mission. The initiative focuses on cleaning and chlorinating wells, storage tanks, and other water sources to curb the spread of the deadly amoeba.