Amoebic meningoencephalitis: Malappuram on high alert

Malappuram: The district health department has sounded a high alert after another patient succumbed to amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare brain-eating amoeba infection. With this, Malappuram has reported two deaths linked to the disease. Health officials have urged the public to exercise extreme caution and avoid bathing in ponds and other water bodies.

District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr R Renuka confirmed the latest death on Monday.

“We have been issuing warnings since the first case was reported in the district. The medical office will urgently convene a meeting in Wandoor to review the situation,” she said.

The latest victim, M Sobhana (56) of Thiruvali, Wandoor, died in the early hours of Monday. She had been admitted to Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital with a severe headache. Her illness was confirmed on Saturday, but despite intensive treatment, she passed away on Monday morning.

The Thiruvali panchayat, where the case was reported, has already initiated preventive measures. 

“We have begun super-chlorination of wells and will convene ward-level sanitation committees on Tuesday at six centres to carry out a second round of chlorination in ponds and wells. There are about 22 public ponds in the panchayat. Warning boards will be placed near each pond to restrict bathing,” said Panchayat president K Ramankutty.

He added that preliminary information suggested Sobhana had not bathed in local water sources. Water samples from suspected wells are being tested to trace the origin of infection.

The first fatality in the district was reported on August 31, when Ramlath (52), a resident of Cherur Kaappil, Vengara, died after one-and-a-half months of treatment. She had developed symptoms in early July and was admitted to multiple hospitals before being shifted to Kozhikode Medical College, where the disease was confirmed. Though her condition briefly improved, her health deteriorated again, leading to her death at the end of August.