Brain-Eating Amoeba Cases in Kerala

Recently, Kerala reported a sharp rise in amoebic meningoencephalitis cases, with 133 confirmed cases and 33 deaths in the first five months of 2026.

• Most of the recent cases are Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE) caused by Acanthamoeba, a free-living amoeba commonly found in contaminated water, soil, and dust.
• Kerala's tropical climate, poor water quality, vegetation-rich water bodies, and high levels of coliform bacterial contamination create favourable conditions for the growth of Acanthamoeba.
• Earlier, most reported infections were Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by Naegleria fowleri, but GAE now accounts for the majority of cases in the state.

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