Kerala’s strategy against amoebic meningoencephalitis

In 2016, Kerala (India) reported its first death from amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but almost always fatal disease, after which the state recorded a sharp rise in cases—38 infections and eight deaths were reported in 2024. From Jan 1 to Nov 7, 2025, the numbers surged further, with 164 confirmed cases and 38 deaths. Aravind Reghukumar (Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, India) told The Lancet Microbe that Kerala’s One Health action plan prioritises active surveillance for amoebic meningoencephalitis.