Kerala Battles Brain-Eating Amoeba Outbreak Amid Rising Health Concerns
On the eve of Onam, Kerala’s most cherished festival, tragedy struck in Malappuram district. Sobhana, a 45-year-old Dalit woman who worked bottling fruit juices, collapsed with fever and violent shivers. Just days earlier, she had only reported dizziness and high blood pressure. Doctors prescribed routine medication, but her health spiraled rapidly. On September 5, the main day of Onam, Sobhana lost her life.
The cause was Naegleria fowleri, more widely known as the brain-eating amoeba—a rare but deadly organism that attacks the brain when contaminated freshwater enters the nose.
“We only learned what killed her after her death,” said her cousin, social worker Ajitha Kathiradath.
Rare but Deadly: The Brain-Eating Amoeba
Naegleria fowleri usually thrives in warm freshwater, feeding on bacteria. When it enters the human body through the nose, it can cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a near-fatal brain infection that destroys brain tissue.
Globally, only about 488 cases have been reported since 1962—mostly in the US, Pakistan, and Australia—with a staggering 95% fatality rate. In Kerala, however, survival rates are improving thanks to early detection.
-
2022: 39 cases, 23% mortality
-
2023: Nearly 70 cases, 24.5% mortality
Doctors credit state-of-the-art labs and aggressive testing for the improved outcomes.
“Cases are rising but deaths are falling. Early diagnosis and targeted drug cocktails are saving lives,” explained Dr. Aravind Reghukumar, head of infectious diseases at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.
Why Kerala is at Higher Risk
Kerala’s dependence on groundwater and natural water bodies increases vulnerability. The state has:
-
5.5 million wells
-
55,000 ponds
Many are polluted, and millions rely on them daily for water. Infections have been traced to bathing in ponds, swimming pools, and even nasal rinsing rituals. One cluster last year was linked to young men inhaling cannabis boiled with pond water.
Authorities have responded by:
-
Chlorinating 2.7 million wells in one campaign
-
Issuing warnings against unsafe ponds
-
Mandating chlorination of pools and tanks under the Public Health Act
But experts admit large-scale enforcement is nearly impossible. Chlorinating ponds kills fish, and monitoring every water source in a state of 30 million residents is unfeasible.
Public Health Advice
Officials are now focusing on awareness over bans. Health guidelines urge:
-
Keeping children away from sprinklers and untreated ponds
-
Using clean, boiled water for nasal cleansing in religious practices
-
Wearing nose plugs while swimming
-
Avoiding stirring up sediment in stagnant water
“The risk is real whether from ponds, wells, or pools,” warns Dr. Anish TS, a leading epidemiologist.
Climate Change and Rising Threat
Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying the danger. Longer summers, warmer water, and rising temperatures create perfect conditions for the amoeba. Even a 1°C rise could trigger further spread.
“Polluted water only makes it worse,” says Prof. Anish. “The amoeba feeds on bacteria, and pollution provides exactly that.”
Globally, infectious disease expert Dr. Dennis Kyle cautions that drug treatments remain “sub-optimal.” Survivors exist, but outcomes vary, and more research is needed to refine therapies.
Lessons Beyond Kerala
While Kerala is saving more lives through early testing, the outbreak is a stark reminder that rare pathogens may not stay rare in a warming world. Climate change, urbanization, and polluted water sources are expanding the reach of deadly infections.
For Sobhana’s family, the science is of little comfort. Their Onam celebrations turned into mourning, and their grief has become a symbol of the urgent need for awareness, accountability, and preparedness.