9-year-old dies of Rare Brain Infection in Kerala
Following the death of a 9-year-old girl from amoebic encephalitis— a rare and often fatal brain infection caused by free-living amoeba commonly found in contaminated water, health authorities in Kozhikode have issued a high alert.
The child was first admitted to a local hospital last week with a high fever. As her condition worsened rapidly, she was shifted to Kozhikode Medical College. Despite treatment, she succumbed on the same day.
According to health officials, this is the fourth case reported from Kozhikode this year — raising concerns about possible contaminated water sources in the district. Efforts are now underway to trace the exact pond or water body where the infection may have been contracted. Doctors explain that the infection is usually caused by Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba.”
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