Kerala on Alert: 19 Dead from Brain-Eating Amoeba | Symptoms, Causes & Latest Updates
Kerala reports 72 infections and 19 deaths from the rare ‘brain-eating amoeba’ in 2025. Learn about symptoms, causes, prevention, and key updates from health officials.
Kerala on High Alert as ‘Brain-Eating Amoeba’ Claims 19 Lives: 5 Key Facts You Need to Know
Kerala is battling a rare but deadly threat — the “brain-eating amoeba” — after cases of infection doubled compared to last year. So far, 72 people have been infected and 19 have lost their lives, with nine deaths reported in September alone.
Last year, the state saw 36 infections and nine deaths from this rare condition. But in 2025, the numbers have escalated sharply, prompting health authorities to launch aggressive testing and awareness drives.
What exactly is this deadly infection?
The culprit is Naegleria fowleri, a water-borne amoeba that causes Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Commonly dubbed the “brain-eating amoeba,” it invades the brain through the nose, destroying brain tissue. While infections are rare, they are almost always fatal.
Five Facts About the Outbreak
1. Widespread Concern Across Kerala
Dr. Altaf Ali, part of the state’s special task force, told AFP that while cases remain relatively small in number, they are appearing across different regions — unlike last year, when infections were restricted to certain pockets. Health teams are now conducting large-scale tests to track and treat cases early.
2. Rising Toll in 2025
According to Health Minister Veena George, Kerala has recorded 72 cases and 19 deaths this year, including 24 cases and 9 deaths in September alone. Unlike in 2024, there has been no cluster outbreak this time — cases are more scattered.
3. How Deadly Is It?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that once the amoeba reaches the brain, the infection is fatal in over 95% of cases. The infection spreads when contaminated water enters the nose, typically in warm lakes, rivers, or poorly treated water supplies. Importantly, it does not spread from person to person.
4. Symptoms to Watch Out For
The World Health Organisation (WHO) notes that symptoms often start with headache, fever, and vomiting, but can rapidly escalate to seizures, hallucinations, confusion, and coma. Death usually follows within days.
5. Global Cases Are Rare, But Fatal
Since 1962, fewer than 500 cases of this amoeba have been reported worldwide, mostly in the United States, India, Pakistan, and Australia. Despite its rarity, the extremely high fatality rate makes it a global public health concern.
Kerala’s health officials are on high alert, scaling up testing and public awareness to contain the spread of this rare but deadly infection. With fatalities rising in 2025, the focus is now on early detection and prevention, as survival chances remain slim once the amoeba infects the brain.
