A dedicated team of health experts, comprising specialists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) in Chennai and the Kerala State Health department, has successfully concluded its on-ground investigation in Kozhikode district. Their mission was to thoroughly study the recent surge in amoebic meningoencephalitis cases across Kerala, a serious infection that has raised significant concerns.
As of October 31, the state has grappled with 153 confirmed cases of this infection, tragically resulting in 33 fatalities. The ICMR-NIE’s comprehensive study is primarily concentrating its efforts on four key districts: Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram, as these regions have reported the highest number of cases in both 2024 and the current year.
The expert team commenced its work in Kozhikode on October 27, initiating discussions with officials at the Government Medical College Hospital. Starting October 28, they embarked on a five-day intensive field operation, visiting 75 households across various locations including Velliparamba, Omassery, Annassery, Naduvannur, Kizhakkoth, Pantheerankavu, Nallalam, and Vengalam. This included visits to the homes of 15 individuals affected by the infection, along with four neighboring houses for each case. During these visits, the team engaged with family members and meticulously collected water samples from the properties to aid their investigation.