Amoebic encephalitis case: Amoeba found in well water at girl’s home in Kozhikode

Kozhikode: Health officials reported on Tuesday reported that an amoeba was found in the well water at the residence of a nine-year-old girl who died last week due to amoebic encephalitis, a rare brain infection.

A senior district health official said that after detecting the amoeba, a fever survey was conducted among all individuals using the well water. The deceased girl’s brother is currently under observation as he had a fever, but he has not shown other symptoms associated with the brain infection caused by a free-living amoeba found in contaminated water, the official added.

The girl, a resident of Thamarassery, was admitted to a hospital with a fever on August 13. As her condition rapidly worsened, she was transferred to Kozhikode Medical College on August 14, where she died the same day. Tests carried out at the medical college’s microbiology lab late on August 15 confirmed that amoebic encephalitis was the cause of death.

Health officials said this is probably the fourth case of this rare brain infection reported in the district this year. The infection is caused by a free-living amoeba typically found in freshwater sources such as lakes, rivers, and streams.

With inputs from PTI