Thiruvananthapuram: Minister Veena George said that Kerala will undertake research on amoebic encephalitis. The State needs to find out why there has been an increase in the number of infected people in the state.

For that purpose, the State has decided to start research activities in collaboration with ICMR, Indian Institute of Science etc. The Minister informed the same during a workshop organised here in this regard.

A detailed study of the biotic and abiotic factors that aid the growth of amoeba will be done to formulate a one health approach. Such conditions in water bodies of Kerala will be assessed. 

It was also decided to conduct a case-control study with the help of ICMR and National Institute of Epidemiology to find out the reason why only some of those who used the same water source developed the disease.

Kerala University Department of Environment Engineering and Pollution Control Board jointly presented a study report during the workshop.