Thiruvananthapuram: A 49-year-old man from Balaramapuram, suspected of contracting amoebic meningoencephalitis, has died. Anil Kumar, son of late Sasidharan Nair and Ambika, passed away in his hometown.

He was admitted to a private hospital in the city on August 10 after developing a fever. On August 14, he was shifted to the Medical College Hospital. He died on Friday at around 2.30 pm.

Although initial examinations at the hospital suggested amoebic meningoencephalitis, the final laboratory report has not yet been released. His relatives stated that Anil Kumar did not have the habit of bathing in ponds or any water bodies. He had recently returned from Chennai.

According to the local medical officer, the number of fever cases in the area remains low. Authorities have put up boards near ponds in the area, warning the public not to enter the water.

Anil Kumar was employed at Thalayal Devi Vilasam UP School. He is survived by wife B G Kavitha and two children.

What is amoebic meningoencephalitis?

Amoebic encephalitis or amoebic meningoencephalitis is a very rare disease that affects one in 10,000 people. The disease occurs when the amoeba, a pathogen of the 'Naegleria fowleri’ genus, affects the brain. It is not transmitted from person to person.

The amoeba, which lives in stagnant water, enters the human body through the thin skin of the nose and causes encephalitis, seriously affecting the brain. Amoebae, which live freely in water, are generally found in stagnant water bodies. By bathing in a stream or pool, these pathogens enter the human body through the thin skin of the nose and seriously affect the brain, causing encephalitis.