The health department in Kerala on Saturday issued an advisory to Sabarimala devotees — with special emphasis on preventing water from entering nose — in the wake of amoebic meningoencephalitis(brain fever) cases reported in the state, as the annual pilgrimage season begins on November 17.

The department urged pilgrims under medical treatment to carry their records and medicines, and said regular medications should not be discontinued while preparing for the pilgrimage.

”Devotees bathing in rivers should ensure that no water enters their noses,” the advisory said.

Even though the advisory did not specify the reason for caution about bathing in rivers, a similar directive was issued when Kerala recently witnessed frequent cases of brain fever.

Mild exercise, such as walking, has been re

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