New amoebic meningoencephalitis case in Kerala; this time, Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: Raising caution, a fresh case of amoebic meningoencephalitis has been confirmed in Kerala, and now it is in the state capital. The latest case is confirmed in a 17-year-old boy from the capital city. After the tests turned positive, the swimming pool here has been closed, and water samples were collected for testing.

It is important to note that six people have already died due to the disease in one month- 16 people died so far this year- and the last one was one Shaji, aged 44, from Malappuram. Shaji, who was under treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH), had liver-related ailments and did not respond to the prescribed medicines during this period, a local media report quoted health officials as saying.

Health officials stated that the source of his infection has not yet been traced. Shaji’s death follows the death of a woman from Vandur, also in Malappuram district, due to the same infection at the KMCH.

Last year, the disease claimed eight lives and left 38 others in critical condition.

The Kerala Health Department has intensified preventive measures across the state, and a water purification campaign was launched. The latter was done with the support of health institutions, local bodies, ASHA workers, Kudumbashree members and volunteers.

The department has issued notices to local bodies to clean stagnant water sources, ponds and pools. When water resorts, hotels, water theme parks, and swimming training centres are instructed to get chlorinated, the government instructs officials to inspect all drinking water sources in the state.