Kerala intensifies efforts to stop brain-eating amoeba

Health authorities in Kerala have issued a stern warning to violators of curbs against the spread of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), following a troubling surge in fatalities linked to the rare brain-eating amoeba in the southern Indian state.

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As of this year, a total of 67 cases of this deadly disease have been reported, primarily concentrated in the northern districts of Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Malappuram, resulting in 18 fatalities and a case fatality rate of 26.87 per cent.

This month alone, there have been 20 reported cases, with eight resulting in death, causing the case fatality rate to skyrocket to 40 per cent.

Despite the rising number of cases, uncertainties remain over the precise modes of transmission and effective preventive measures.