Kerala’s ‘brain-eating’ amoeba: cases up, fatalities down
Kerala has logged 70+ amoebic meningoencephalitis cases this year, with 19 deaths. The free-living amoeba enters via the nose in warm freshwater and is usually fatal, yet Kerala's aggressive testing has lifted survival (39 cases last year; ~23% fatality). Officials are warning against pond bathing and tightening chlorination as labs expand rapid detection.