Kerala Battles Deadly Naegleria Fowleri Outbreak with 19 Deaths Reported in 2025

Kerala Battles Deadly Naegleria Fowleri Outbreak with 19 Deaths Reported in 2025

Last Updated Sep - 19 - 2025, 03:24 PM | Source : Fela News

Kerala faces a surge in Naegleria fowleri infections, with 19 fatalities this year.

Kerala is grappling with a big health crisis as 19 peoples has succumed to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare and mostly fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri amoeba. This year alone, the state have report 69 confirmed cases, more then double the number from last year. The infection usualy enters the body from nose when people swim or bath in warm freshwater which is contaminated with amoeba.

The disease progress very rapid, with symptons like headache, fever, nausea, and brain problems appearing within 1 to 9 days of exposed. Once the amoeba reach brain, it cause severe inflammation, leading to death in most cases. The median time from sympton start to death is around five days, making early diagnose and treatment very important. But, treatment options are very limited, and survival rates still very low.

Health authorities has intensified efforts to fight the outbreak by chlorinate water sources and raising public awareness about prevention steps. Peoples are advised to avoid swimming in warm untreated freshwater, use nose clips, and ensure water dont enters nose during bath. The state government also issued guideline for safe use of recreational water places to prevent more infections.

Despite these efforts, the outbreak show the challenges of controlling waterborne disease in tropical areas and also highlight the need for continue vigilance and health initiatives.

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