Kerala Reports Three Deaths from Rare Brain Infection; African Swine Fever Detected in Karnataka

Kerala has reported two more deaths from amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and often fatal brain infection, taking the toll in the state to three. Health officials confirmed the fatalities on Monday.

One of the victims was a three-month-old infant, son of Abubacker Siddique from Omassery in Kozhikode district. The child had been under treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital for the past month but succumbed to the infection on Sunday after his condition deteriorated in the ICU.

The second victim, identified as Ramla (52) from Kappil in Malappuram district, developed symptoms on July 8. She was initially treated at a private hospital before being shifted to Kozhikode Medical College, where her health worsened.

Earlier, on August 14, a nine-year-old girl from Thamarassery had died from the same infection at the hospital. Currently, eight more patients from Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts are undergoing treatment for amoebic meningoencephalitis.

According to health authorities, the disease is primarily contracted through swimming or bathing in contaminated water. Kerala has reported 42 cases of the infection so far this year. In response, the state’s Health Department has intensified preventive measures, including chlorination of wells and water storage tanks in Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Malappuram districts.

Meanwhile, African Swine Fever (ASF) has been confirmed at a pig farm in Hebbari village, Chintamani taluk, Karnataka. Officials from the Animal Husbandry Department said laboratory tests confirmed the infection after nearly 100 pigs reportedly died at the farm since August 19.

Following confirmation from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal, authorities culled 57 pigs to prevent further spread. Immediate containment measures are now underway in the affected region.