Thiruvananthapuram: More cases of Amoebic meningoencephalitis are being reported in Kerala with one case reported in Thiruvananthapuram. A 34-year-old woman from Edava in Varkala has tested positive for amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but often fatal brain infection. A routine laboratory test of the woman’s cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the presence of amoeba.

The patient had undergone clinical examination at the neurology department of the Government Medical College Hospital here, after she suffered diplopia or “double vision” for a long time.

However, identifying the specific strain of amoeba that infected her brain requires a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, health officials said.

On Monday, a native of Kodumon in Attingal also tested positive for the brain-eating amoeba. According to official reports, the district currently has three active cases of brain fever.

Amoebic meningoencephalitis, caused by the brain-eating amoeba is a serious public health concern in Kerala, with increased cases reported since 2023, including a rise in 2025. While the disease is often fatal, proactive detection, aggressive treatment with drugs like Miltefosine, and preventive measures such as using nose clips in freshwater and avoiding stagnant water sources have helped lower the mortality rate in Kerala to around 25% in 2025, compared to the global average of over 90%