JAKARTA - India is currently facing a surge in cases of Primary Ameobic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), specifically in the Kerala region. This infection is caused by Naegleria fowleri, also known as the "brain-eating amoeba," which can be fatal.
As reported by the BBC, as of Saturday, September 20, more than 70 people have been diagnosed with PAM this year, and 19 of them have died. Patients infected with PAM complain of a variety of symptoms.
One patient, Sobhana, complained of dizziness and high blood pressure. She worked daily and eventually went to the doctor, was given medication and sent home.
However, her condition rapidly worsened. The discomfort turned into fever and chills, and finally, on September 5, 2025, Sobhana died, the cause of death being the brain-eating amoeba infection.
"We were powerless to stop it. We only learned about this disease after Sobhana's death," said Ajitha Kathiradtah, the victim's cousin.
PAM infection is a rare infection that typically enters the body through the nose when someone swims in fresh water. This condition is so rare that most doctors never treat it.
This amoeba normally lives by feeding on bacteria in warm fresh water. However, when it enters the human body through the nose while swimming, it can cause a brain infection that is almost always fatal.
Once infected, patients typically experience sudden and severe symptoms. These include severe headaches, high fever, nausea, and vomiting, as Sobhana experienced.
Over time, these symptoms progress to a stiff neck, confusion, lack of focus, loss of balance, hallucinations, seizures, and ultimately, coma and death.
These symptoms usually progress very rapidly, and most sufferers die within a few days to two weeks of infection and the onset of symptoms.
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