India, Sept. 18 -- Kerala health minister Veena George on Wednesday attributed the rise in the number of amoebic meningoencephalitis (AME) cases in the state this year to aggressive testing.

Her statement came in response to an adjournment debate motion moved by UDF MLA N Shamsudheen in the Assembly on the spurt in AME cases. This year, as per the statistics of the state health department until September 16, there have been 69 cases and 19 deaths. Most of the deaths have been reported in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in north Kerala.

AME is primarily caused by free-living amoeba residing in fresh and stagnant water and in the soil beneath water sources like wells, ponds and lakes. The amoeba enters the human body through the nose w...