Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister Veena George on Friday spoke to the media on the death of an Alappuzha boy, who succumbed to a rare brain infection caused by free-living amoeba. She called it an unfortunate incident and noted that there is no need to worry. The minister went on to say that this is an extremely rare non-communicable disease.

The 15-year-old boy, a native of Panavally, died while he was being treated for a disease called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). There have been five such cases reported in Kerala so far, the minister said. 

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15-year-old Alappuzha boy dies of rare brain infection caused by free-living amoebae

Previously, this illness was reported in individuals belonging to Alappuzha (2016), Malappuram (2019 and 2020), Kozhikode (2020), and Thrissur (2022). All five patients who contracted this disease died. This disease has a very high mortality rate, Veena told the media.

The disease-causing amoeba is found in landlocked water bodies and it may infect 1 in 10,000 people. The amoeba travels up the nose to the brain where it destroys brain tissue, resulting in swelling. This microorganism is known as ‘brain-eater’. 

The symptoms of this disease include fever, headache, nausea, seizures, etc. The 15-year-old first complained of fever on 29 June. He was admitted to the Thuravoor Taluk hospital with complaints of headache and altered vision. Encephalitis was the primary assumption due to signs of mental confusion, for which he was referred to the medical college. Patient history revealed that he had bathed in a local pond.

Nevertheless, the chances of getting infected with this amoeba by swimming in ponds are extremely rare, Veena George said. She added that an official announcement is being made since the news of this death was published in the media. The minister also added that it is due to Kerala’s efficient public health system that diseases like this are detected and studied. Presently, there is no need for alarm as this illness will not pass from one person to another, she clarified.