A 17-year-old Kerala boy who was critically ill with dual infection of amoebic meningoencephalitis and Aspergillus flavus made a startling recovery, thanks to the efforts of the doctors who treated him.
According to the Kerala Health Department, this is the first time in the world that a person survived these two rare and deadly infections. The student, after undergoing rigorous treatment, was discharged from Thiruvananthapuram Medical College after 3 months.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George applauded the efforts of the entire medical team, including Alappuzha Medical College, who detected the infection at the right time.
Naegleria fowleri, often called the “brain-eating ameba,” thrives in warm lakes, ponds, & other fresh water.
— CDC Emerging Infections (@CDC_NCEZID) September 12, 2025
Take steps this summer to protect you and your loved ones from this germ that can cause a rare but deadly brain infection. https://t.co/6xCjp6jWXg pic.twitter.com/m6PWkwOTEV
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), also known as brain-eating amoeba (Naegleria fowleri), is a very serious infection of the central nervous system that’s almost always fatal, as per the Cleveland Clinic.
How was the child infected?
The patient developed encephalitis, which was followed by loss of consciousness and weakness on the left side, a week after taking a dip in a pond.
On careful investigation, the medical team at Alappuzha Medical College Hospital found the presence of amoeba in the cerebrospinal fluid. The child was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital after his vision blurred, pressure increased inside the brain, and pus formed.
Later, experts found the presence of a fungus called Aspergillus flavus, making the condition extremely complex to treat. After intensive treatment, the child was discharged.
So far, the Kerala Health Department has reported 86 cases of amoebic encephalitis in the state; of these, 47 cases were reported this year. As per officials, of the reported cases, 21 deaths have occurred.
The state has prepared special guidelines that include a testing system in the microbiology labs of medical colleges, and a system in the State Public Health Lab to detect the type of amoeba.
