KOZHIKODE: Amid serious concerns over an increase in the cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis in the state, an expert team at the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) has confirmed the detection of a rare amoeba variant, Sappinia pedata, in a patient under treatment at the MCH. This is the first time the variant is detected in the state.
Currently, there are 18 active cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Malappuram districts. Of them, eight have been admitted to the Kozhikode MCH. This year, 41 cases have been confirmed in the state so far.
With the cases on the rise, the state government has heightened vigil, launching preventive measures, including chlorination of wells and water tanks across homes, hospitals, hostels and educational institutions. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged local self-government institutions to carry out preventive measures effectively.
Vermamoeba vermiformis, a free-living amoeba that has been identified as a cause of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), and Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba, were the two variants identified in the cases reported in the state so far.
Chlorination drive on August 30, 31
The Sappinia pedata strain is particularly rare and can trigger both granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and PAM — conditions that are often fatal if left untreated.
“Sappinia infections are extremely rare. The fact we have detected it here is of high clinical importance. It may represent a changing trend in environmental exposure or simply improved diagnosis, but it warrants detailed study,” said a neurologist at Kozhikode MCH. Patients with Sappinia infection usually show symptoms such as fever, severe headache, nausea, seizures, or confusion. The challenge, experts say, is these symptoms mimic other types of meningitis.
“In laboratory tests, these amoebae are often mistaken for bacteria, fungi, or other parasites. Unless doctors suspect amoebic infection, it can go unnoticed. That delay is what makes the disease dangerous,” said a microbiologist at the MCH. Despite the strain’s rarity, doctors stress that clinical outcomes have improved due to quicker detection and aggressive treatment.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Veena George urged the public to be cautious but not alarmed. She announced a statewide water hygiene campaign to arrest the rise in amoebic encephalitis cases.
Urging LSG bodies to intensify preventive measures, the CM said the government will launch ‘Water is Life’ to combat waterborne diseases. The initiative, led by Haritha Keralam Mission will begin with a statewide drive on August 30 and 31 to chlorinate wells and water storage tanks across homes, hospitals, hostels and educational institutions.