Amoebic meningitis alert: ICMR warns people with wounds

Kozhikode: People with facial injuries or open wounds are being urged to exercise extra caution around water in Kerala amid a sharp rise in amoebic meningoencephalitis (AME), with an ICMR study warning that infection risks may extend beyond water entering the nose while swimming or bathing.

The advisory follows a study conducted after a surge in amoebic meningitis cases in Kerala in 2025. The ICMR has asked health authorities to specifically advise people with open wounds, chronic ulcers, facial bone injuries and those who have undergone nasal surgery to avoid contact with natural water bodies.

The study also highlights a potential risk from using untreated well water for bathing. A National Institute of Epidemiology report cited in the study found that exposure to untreated water could increase the risk of infection threefold.

Amoebae belonging to the Acanthamoeba group can potentially enter the body through breaks in the skin and subsequently reach the central nervous system. The organisms are widespread in the environment and have been detected in soil, freshwater, wells, swimming pools, domestic water systems and piped water.

Samples collected from 51 villages where cases were reported found amoebae in multiple water sources in 43 locations, accounting for 84.3% of the sites.

The study recorded 159 cases in Kerala between January 1 and November 2025, with 41 deaths, putting the fatality rate at 25.8%. This marked a substantial increase from the 46 cases and 15 deaths reported between 2016 and 2024.

The findings indicate that greater caution is needed among people with wounds or facial injuries when using potentially contaminated water, while researchers have called for further investigation into transmission through skin injuries.