What’s New

 

A joint field-level study by the State Health Department and experts from ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology in Chennai has begun to identify the causes of Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (Amoebic Brain Fever), starting in Kozhikode and extending to Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Malappuram districts. This is a continuation of a technical workshop held in August 2024 involving experts from Kerala Health Department, ICMR, Institute of Advanced Virology, JIPMER Pondicherry, Indian Institute of Science and the Pollution Control Board.

Globally, the disease has a 99% fatality rate, but through effective measures, Kerala has reduced it to 24%.Being the first state in India to issue a dedicated protocol, enabling early detection and successful treatment of many patients. To prevent infection, avoid jumping or diving into stagnant or untreated water; use a nose plug or pinch the nose while swimming; keep the head above water; avoid stirring sediment; ensure pools, water parks, and spas are properly chlorinated and maintained; prevent water from sprinklers or hoses entering the nose; never pour unboiled water into the nose; avoid letting unchlorinated water enter the nose while bathing; protect water bodies from waste discharge; clean storage tanks every three months; and ensure immunocompromised patients use only purified water for wound cleaning.