Kerala is facing alarm as Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) sometimes called brain-eating amoeba infection has led to 19 deaths this year, out of 69 confirmed cases. Health Minister Veena George clarified that though there are deaths, there is no cluster detected in 2025. 

She noted that in 2024 there were clusters (for example in Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kannur) associated with same water sources, but so far this year, cases seem to be scattered without a single source linking them.

To fight the disease, state health authorities in collaboration with National Centre for Disease Control have picked up surveillance. Doctors are being asked to test all meningoencephalitis cases for possible amoebic infection, and to treat immediately if suspected. 

PAM is caused by Naegleria fowleri, which typically enters through nose when someone bathes or swims in contaminated freshwater. Drinking contaminated water isn’t known to cause it. Symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, and sometimes loss of consciousness. 

Despite the worry and fatalities, health officials emphasise that there is no ongoing outbreak from a single source, so risk is believed to be under control with prompt detection and response.