ICMR study identifies well water as major risk factor for amoebic meningoencephalitis in Keralam
A joint study by the Kerala Health Department and the ICMR has linked the use of non-chlorinated well water to an increased risk of amoebic meningoencephalitis. The research suggests that nearly 35% of cases could be prevented by addressing this specific water quality issue.
Why it matters
This study provides critical epidemiological evidence for public health policy in Kerala, where reliance on untreated well water is common and poses a significant health risk.
The first joint field-level study by the Keralam Health Department and experts from ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology in Chennai to describe the epidemiology of amoebic meningoencephalitis (AME) cases reported in Kerala in 2025 has identified exposure to natural water bodies and the use of non-chlorinated water for bathing and other domestic purposes as significant risk factors, providing the first epidemiological evidence from the State on potentially modifiable exposures linked to amoebic meningoencephalitis.
The case-control study is the first scientific proof of the questionable quality of well water in Keralam, on which a significant section of the population depends for bathing and other domestic use.
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