Kerala’s Kozhikode district is once again in the spotlight with a surge of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but deadly infection caused by Naegleria fowleri. First reported in the state in 2016, PAM has since seen 37 cases up to 2024, with 13 fatalities—a grim reminder of its survival rate of less than five percent. This year alone, eight cases and two deaths have already been reported, half of them from Kozhikode. The most recent fatality was a nine-year-old girl from Thamarassery earlier this month.
In response, local health officials surveyed nearby households and identified a few fever cases but reassured the public that there’s no cause for panic just yet. Precaution remains the best strategy. Authorities have advised people to avoid swimming in stagnant water, particularly those who have recently undergone nasal or ear surgery. Regular chlorination of well water,…
