Kozhikode: Kerala has reported its fifth death in a month due to amoebic meningoencephalitis. The latest victim, Shobhana, a native of Thiruvali near Wandoor in Malappuram district, died on Monday while undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH).

She was diagnosed with the disease on September 6 and was in critical condition. Her body is kept at the medical college hospital. Currently, 11 patients are under treatment at the Kozhikode MCH. 

Her death comes two days after another patient, Ratheesh, a native of Sulthan Bathery, died while under treatment. 

Last week, two more individuals succumbed to the disease- a three-month-old baby boy from Omassery in Kozhikode, and Ramla, a 52-year-old woman from Malappuram. On August 14, a nine-year-old girl from Thamarassery also died while undergoing treatment at the Institute of Maternal and Child Health (IMCH) in Kozhikode.

Amoebic Meningoencephalitis has been the most significant cause of concern for people across Kerala this year, with repeated cases getting reported from various districts. The disease is caused by amoebas found in stagnant water, soil, cesspools, freshwater lakes and rivers. It has two major forms. The first is Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by the amoeba Naegleria fowleri. This form invades and destroys brain cells, resulting in swelling and severe damage to brain tissue. The second is Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE), which is caused by a different species of amoeba.