One more case of amoebic meningoencephalitis confirmed in Kerala; total rises to 8

Kozhikode: Another case of amoebic meningoencephalitis has been confirmed in the state. A 25-year-old man from Wayanad, currently undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, tested positive, raising the total number of patients under treatment to eight.

Among them, three patients are from Malappuram district, three from Kozhikode, and two from Wayanad.

Earlier, the younger brother of a nine-year-old girl from Thamarassery who died of the disease recently was also diagnosed with the infection. He is said to have bathed in the same pond as his sister. The seven-year-old is now receiving treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

The other patients include a 49-year-old man from Pulliparamba (Malappuram), an 11-year-old girl from Chelari (Malappuram), a three-month-old baby from Omassery (Kozhikode), a 38-year-old man from Annassery (Kozhikode), a 47-year-old man from Chelambra (Malappuram), and a 45-year-old man from Bathery (Wayanad).

Meanwhile, health authorities remain concerned as the exact source of the infection has not been clearly identified. The disease usually spreads through bathing in stagnant ponds or rivers. However, relatives of the three-month-old baby said the child had only been bathed with water from a well. Similarly, some other patients had no history of bathing in ponds or rivers, leaving officials uncertain about the exact source of infection.