Fresh case of amoebic meningoencephalitis reported in Trivandrum, woman hospitalised

Thiruvananthapuram: More cases of Amoebic meningoencephalitis are being reported in Kerala with one case reported in Thiruvananthapuram. A 34-year-old woman from Edava in Varkala has tested positive for amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but often fatal brain infection. A routine laboratory test of the woman’s cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the presence of amoeba.

The patient had undergone clinical examination at the neurology department of the Government Medical College Hospital here, after she suffered diplopia or “double vision” for a long time.

However, identifying the specific strain of amoeba that infected her brain requires a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, health officials said.

On Monday, a native of Kodumon in Attingal also tested positive for the brain-eating amoeba. Ac