Last Updated on 06/07/2024 by wccexam Desk
Fourth case of amoeba reported in Kerala
Image courtesy: Bhasha
Brain Eating Amoeba: Another case of brain-eating amoeba infection has been reported in Kerala. Amoebic meningoencephalitis is caused by amoeba found in contaminated water. Sources at a hospital said that a 14-year-old boy from Payyoli in Kozhikode district of northern Kerala is suffering from this infection. The boy is being treated at the same hospital. This is the fourth case of amoeba infection in the state since May and so far all the cases have been children. In the earlier cases, all three children have died.
A doctor treating the teenager said he was admitted to the hospital on July 1 and his condition is improving. The doctor said on Saturday that the infection in the teenager was identified quickly and other treatments were given, including medicines imported from abroad. Earlier, a 14-year-old teenager died of the same infection on Wednesday night, a five-year-old girl from Malappuram and a 13-year-old girl from Kannur died of brain infection on May 21 and June 25 respectively.
Amid rising infection cases, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a meeting on Friday in which several suggestions were made to prevent the infection, including not bathing in dirty water bodies. It was also suggested in the meeting that chlorine should be added to swimming pools and children should be careful while entering them as they are most affected by the disease. The Chief Minister also said that all people should take care to keep water bodies clean.
Measures to prevent infection
- Swimming pools must have proper chlorination.
- Everyone should take care to keep the water reservoirs clean.
- Children should be careful while entering water bodies.
- Amoeba bacteria enter the body through the nose from contaminated water.
- This infection can be avoided by using nose clips.