Kerala on alert as Brain-Eating Amoeba cases climb

Kerala’s health authorities are on high alert after a surge in cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but deadly infection caused by the “brain-eating” amoeba Naegleria fowleri. As of this week, the state has recorded 69 infections and 19 deaths in 2025, sparking public concern and calls for urgent preventive action. The amoeba thrives in warm, untreated freshwater such as ponds and lakes, entering the body through the nose and attacking brain tissue. Health Minister Veena George said there is no evidence of cluster outbreaks but urged strict caution. MP Shashi Tharoor warned citizens to avoid swimming in stagnant or poorly treated water and to use nose clips where possible. Hospitals have been directed to enhance surveillance, and rapid-response teams are tracking suspected cases. With no guaranteed cure and a fatality rate exceeding 95 percent, officials stress that early detection and public awareness remain the state’s strongest defenses against the microscopic killer.