Amid reports of amoebic encephalitis in Kerala, where 36 deaths have been recorded, Tamil Nadu’s Public Health Department has urged Ayyappa devotees traveling to Sabarimala not to panic, assuring that the infection does not spread person-to-person.
The infection, caused by Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba found in freshwater, has prompted Kerala Health Minister Veena George to advise caution. In her statement, she urged pilgrims to avoid bathing in stagnant water bodies and to cover their nose and mouth while bathing in rivers like the Pamba, which flows through the Sabarimala pilgrimage route.
Advanced medical facilities have been set up at Pampa and Sannidhanam (the temple sanctum), with special dispensaries also operational at Pandalam, Adoor, Pathanamthitta, and Vadaserikkara. Additionally, health cards are now mandatory for food service workers in these regions.
Tamil Nadu health officials advised pilgrims to remain calm, follow safe water practices, and prioritize hygiene during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season which began on November 17.
TN tells Sabarimala Pilgrims: no panic over Kerala Amoeba Threat
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