Goa, Sept. 18 -- Kerala health authorities have sounded the alarm following a rise in cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but deadly brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri parasite, commonly referred to as the "brain-eating amoeba."

So far this year, the state has recorded 61 confirmed cases and 19 deaths, with many fatalities reported in recent weeks. Patients have ranged in age from a three-month-old infant to a 91-year-old, highlighting the wide vulnerability to the infection.

State Health Minister Veena George described the situation as a serious public health challenge. Unlike previous years, when cases were linked to clusters in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, new infections are now appearing sp...