The central government has urged Kerala authorities to enhance monitoring following a reported increase in cases of a brain-eating amoeba. According to the Kerala health minister, the state has recorded 80 cases and 21 deaths in 2025. This follows 36 cases with nine deaths in 2024 and two fatal cases in 2023. A meeting chaired by Rajiv Bhal, Secretary of the Department of Health Research, emphasized the need for heightened surveillance and broader testing of samples. Health officials are now prioritizing prevention and early detection, encouraging both private and government health facilities to maintain a high “index of suspicion” for suspicious symptoms, leading to immediate reporting and investigation. The infection, which occurs when these amoebae enter the brain through the nose, carries a mortality rate exceeding 95% if untreated, making it a significant public health concern.
Source: www.livemint.com