Kozhikode: Kerala has reported two more tragic deaths from the rare but deadly amoebic meningoencephalitis, also known as amoebic brain fever. Within just 24 hours, a three-month-old infant and a 52-year-old homemaker lost their lives while undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.
The infant, son of Abubacker Siddique from Omassery, had been battling the infection for nearly a month in the ICU before succumbing this morning. The homemaker, identified as Ramla from Kappil in Malappuram’s Kunnamangalam, developed symptoms on July 8. She was first admitted to a private hospital and later shifted to Kozhikode Medical College as her condition worsened.
These deaths raise the toll in the Malabar region to three within a month, triggering growing public concern. Currently, patients from Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad remain under treatment, with eight confirmed cases across the state.
In response, the health department has launched an intensive awareness and prevention drive. Since the infection spreads through contaminated water, local self-government bodies will conduct mass chlorination of wells statewide this weekend.
