Sun Sep 07 10:55:54 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Kasaragod Man Contracts Amoebic Meningoencephalitis as Outbreak Concerns Grow in Kerala**

**Kasaragod, India – September 7, 2025 (4:29 PM IST)** – A 32-year-old man from the Rajapuram area of Kasaragod district, Kerala, is the latest confirmed case of amoebic meningoencephalitis. He is currently receiving treatment at Kozhikode Medical College. Health officials suspect the infection was contracted after the man bathed in a local waterbody.

This news comes on the heels of the death of a 45-year-old man from Wayanad on Saturday, bringing the total number of deaths from the rare but deadly disease in Kerala to four in the past month. Previous fatalities included an eight-year-old child, a three-month-old infant, and a housewife from Malappuram.

Currently, eleven patients are being treated for amoebic meningoencephalitis at Kozhikode Medical College, including the latest case from Kasaragod. Two of these patients, comprising two children and nine adults, are reported to be in critical condition.

Amoebic meningoencephalitis is caused by the amoeba *Naegleria fowleri*, commonly found in stagnant water such as ponds and rivers. The amoeba enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain, causing severe and often fatal inflammation. Initial symptoms mimic common illnesses, including headache, fever, vomiting, and neck stiffness. In advanced stages, patients may experience seizures, fainting, and memory loss.

The Kerala Health Department has issued an urgent advisory urging residents to avoid using stagnant water sources for bathing and to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease. Public health officials are investigating the source of the infections and are working to educate the public about the risks associated with exposure to contaminated water.

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