Kochi: A brain eating amoeba has claimed six lives in Kerala with a 47-year-old person of Malappuram falling its prey, media reports said.
Known as amoebic meningoencephalitis, it claimed the life of the Malappuram native while he was undergoing treatment at medical college where he was admitted in a critical condition on August 9. A few days back a resident of Thiruvali near Wandoor in Malappuram, died at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH) after being diagnosed on September 6.
Others who died are a three month old baby in Sulthan Bathery of Omassery in Kozhikode, a 52-year-old woman from Malappuram; and a nine-year-old girl from Thamarassery are the other victims.
Ten patients are being treated for amoebic meningoencephalitis at Kozhikode Medical College.
The disease is caused by amoebas found in stagnant water, soil, cesspools, freshwater lakes and rivers.
The disease has been reported in 39 countries. They are most common in countries with warm freshwater and warm climates like the US, Pakistan, Mexico, India, Australia, and the Czech Republic. Pakistan and the United States have the highest number of cases.
Climate change is said to have helped it to thrive.
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Amoeba kills 6 in Kerala
