Kerala Reports Sixth Death From Brain-Eating Amoeba In A Month

Last Updated:September 11, 2025, 18:00 IST

Amoebic meningoencephalitis has claimed six lives in Kerala, including Shaji of Chelambra. Ten patients are being treated at Kozhikode Medical College amid ongoing cleaning drives.

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The death toll from amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but deadly infection caused by brain-eating amoeba, rose to six in Kerala on Thursday, health officials said.

The latest victim, Shaji (47), a native of Chelambra in Malappuram, succumbed to the disease while undergoing treatment. He was admitted to the medical college in a critical condition on August 9.

His condition became critical, and he died early on Thursday morning, news agency PTI reported.

Authorities have not yet determined how he contracted the infection, which is mainly linked to amoebae found in contaminated water.

At present, 10 patients are undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College for the infection.

Last week, Shobhana, a resident of Thiruvali near Wandoor in Malappuram, died at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH) after being diagnosed on September 6. Ratheesh, a native of Sulthan Bathery, a three-month-old baby from Omassery in Kozhikode; Ramla, a 52-year-old woman from Malappuram; and a nine-year-old girl from Thamarassery are the other victims.

Health officials said they have launched a cleaning drive, including chlorinating wells and ponds in the state’s northern districts, after a spate of “brain fever” cases reported since July.

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