Kerala reports sixth death from brain-eating amoebic infection in one month
Malappuram: A 47-year-old man from Malappuram district has died due to amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but fatal brain infection caused by a “brain-eating” amoeba. This is the sixth such death reported in Kerala within the past month.
The deceased, identified as Shaji from Chelempra Chaliparambu, was admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH) on August 9 after his health deteriorated. He had liver-related ailments and failed to respond to treatment, health officials confirmed on Wednesday night.
This marks the second fatality from the infection in a week. Earlier, a woman from Vandur in Malappuram also succumbed at KMCH.
Meanwhile, two more cases — a 10-year-old girl and a woman — tested positive for the infection on Wednesday. Health officials said a total of 10 patients are currently undergoing treatment in different hospitals, with one reported to be in critical condition.
The inability to trace the exact source of the amoeba has hindered containment efforts. Most of the deaths, including those of a three-month-old infant and a nine-year-old girl, have been reported from northern Kerala.
Authorities have intensified surveillance and launched awareness campaigns. The infection, typically caused by the free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri, spreads when contaminated freshwater enters the body through the nose during activities like swimming or diving. It is not transmitted from person to person and cannot be contracted by drinking contaminated water.
Experts suggest that climate change and changing water conditions could be contributing to the rise in cases.
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Late flourish masks CSK’s batting woes on lively Chepauk track, hosts post 158/7
Chennai (PTI): Bowlers calling the shots in a format dominated by big hitters is a rarity, but that script played out at Chepauk on Sunday as Gujarat Titans exploited a lively, bounce-friendly surface to stifle Chennai Super Kings before the hosts managed a late flourish to reach 158 for 7.
On a pitch that offered sharp carry, stroke-making demanded discretion and adaptability. Instead, CSK’s batters often opted for high-risk shots without fully assessing conditions, and paid the price with a flurry of miscued dismissals.
Invited to bat, CSK never quite found rhythm but skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden half-century (74 not out) of the current IPL season lent a semblance of respectability to the total in a season where 200-plus scores have become commonplace.
Gaikwad's knock came off 60 balls with six fours and four sixes after a laboured start.
The tone was set early by GT pacer Mohammed Siraj, who extracted steep bounce and forced errors.
Sanju Samson (11) began watchfully, negotiating the first over before opening up against Kagiso Rabada to bring up his 5000 IPL runs milestone. However, Rabada’s bounce soon accounted for him as a hard slash outside off resulted in a faint edge that Jos Buttler pouched safely.
The dismissal triggered a collapse. Urvil Patel (4) fell in the same Rabada over attempting an ambitious pull, while Sarfaraz Khan (0) succumbed to Siraj’s extra lift, mistiming a short ball to offer a simple catch.
At 28 for 3 inside the Powerplay, CSK were already in trouble.
Gaikwad and Dewald Brevis (2) needed to rebuild, but the latter’s impatience against spinner Manav Suthar led to his downfall, holing out after failing to get to the pitch of the ball.
The mounting wickets forced Gaikwad into a shell — an approach that, while understandable, further stalled the momentum. His reluctance to improvise allowed dot balls to pile up, with CSK reaching 50 only in the 12th over.
The skipper eventually broke free, taking on Arshad Khan and Jason Holder with a couple of towering sixes, but the acceleration came too late.
Shivam Dube, dropped thrice on 6, 11 and 22, struggled for fluency before Arshad cleaned him up.
Kartik Sharma (15) and Jamie Overton (18) provided late impetus with a few lusty hits, but the damage had already been done.
On a pitch that rewarded discipline and smart shot selection, Titans' bowlers executed their plans to perfection, while CSK’s batters failed to read the conditions in time, a lapse that ultimately defined the innings.
