Kerala Govt: Higher Detection, Stricter Guidelines Driving Rise in Brain-Eating Amoeba Cases

The Kerala government attributed the rise in primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) cases to improved detection and stricter guidelines, following 19 deaths from the brain-eating amoeba this year. Health Minister Veena George, responding to an adjournment motion in the Assembly by the Congress-led United Democratic Front, explained that enhanced surveillance and diagnostic measures are resulting in more cases being identified and classified as PAM rather than general encephalitis. The state emphasized that the apparent spike in cases reflects better monitoring and reporting, not necessarily an actual increase in infections, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis and public health vigilance.