What Is Brain-Eating Amoeba? Kerala Reports 19 Deaths, 72 Infections

Kerala is on high alert after reporting a surge in cases linked to the rare water-borne "brain-eating amoeba," which has so far caused 19 deaths in the state this year. Authorities have confirmed 72 infections in 2025, compared to 36 cases last year, of which nine were fatal. Alarmingly, nine deaths and 24 cases have been recorded in September alone.

The infection, medically known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a deadly amoeba that invades the brain and destroys brain tissue.

Spread and Response in Kerala

Dr. Altaf Ali, a member of the government task force monitoring the situation, told AFP that while the number of cases remains relatively small, health officials are ramping up testing across the state. Unlike last year, when infections were reported from concentrated pockets, this year's cases have been detected across multiple regions.

Health Minister Veena George clarified that despite the rise in numbers, no cluster outbreak has been identified in 2025. Last year, the state reported 36 infections, nine of which were fatal, whereas this year's toll has already more than doubled.

Why It's Deadly

If the amoeba reaches the brain, it triggers an infection that is almost always fatal, with a mortality rate of over 95 percent. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that while infections are extremely rare, they are nearly always deadly. The amoeba thrives in warm freshwater sources like rivers and lakes, and infection occurs when contaminated water enters the nose. Importantly, it cannot spread from one person to another.

Symptoms and Global Cases

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), early symptoms include headache, fever, and vomiting, which quickly escalate to seizures, hallucinations, altered mental state, and coma.

Since the first identified case in 1962, nearly 500 infections have been reported worldwide, mainly in the United States, India, Pakistan, and Australia.