A 14-year-old boy, who was under treatment for amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare brain infection caused by a free-living amoeba found in contaminated waters, died at a private hospital in Kozhikode.
Mridul died at 11.20 pm on Wednesday, Kerala state health department said on Thursday.
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This is the third case of fatal infection reported in the southern state since May. The first instance was the death of a five-year-old girl from Malappuram on May 21 and the second a 13-year-old girl from Kannur who died on June 25.
According to the health department sources, the child had taken a dip at a small pond here and preventive measures were being taken.
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Medical experts said the infection occurs when free-living, non-parasitic amoebae bacteria enter the body through the nose from contaminated water. The health authorities have advised people to exercise caution against amoebic meningoencephalitis.
{{/usCountry}}Medical experts said the infection occurs when free-living, non-parasitic amoebae bacteria enter the body through the nose from contaminated water. The health authorities have advised people to exercise caution against amoebic meningoencephalitis.
{{/usCountry}}The disease was earlier reported in coastal Alappuzha district in the state in 2023 and 2017.