Archive · 25 Dec 2025
Deadly Brain Infections Surge in 2025
In 2025, there was a big increase in serious brain infections in India.
In Kerala, a brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri caused 170 cases and 42 deaths.
This is a huge jump from just 2 cases and 2 deaths in 2023.
The amoeba lives in warm freshwater and can enter the brain through the nose, causing swelling and tissue damage.
Doctors say the cases are spreading across the state, not just from one water source.
Another infection, Japanese encephalitis, also increased, with 224 cases across 11 states and 26 deaths in Assam.
Experts blame climate change for making it easier for mosquitoes to breed and spread diseases.
Early signs of these infections include high fever, intense headache, and stiff neck.
If not treated quickly, they can be very dangerous.
Kerala reported 170 cases and 42 fatalities from Naegleria fowleri in 2025, an 85-fold increase from 2023.
Japanese encephalitis cases rose to 224 across 11 states in India, with 26 fatalities in Assam.
Climate change is contributing to the spread of mosquito-borne diseases by creating favorable breeding habitats.
Common symptoms of brain infections include high fever, intense headache, stiff neck, unusual drowsiness, confusion, seizures, and weakness on one side of the body.
The surge in brain infections highlights the need for better healthcare system preparedness and preventive interventions.
- Who
- People in Kerala and across 11 states in India
- What
- A surge in deadly brain infections, including Naegleria fowleri and Japanese encephalitis
- When
- 2025
- Where
- Kerala and 11 states in India
- Why
- Due to climate change, poor mosquito control, low vaccination coverage, and changing epidemiological patterns
- Naegleria fowleri Cases in Kerala (2025)
- 170 cases, 42 fatalities
- Naegleria fowleri Cases in Kerala (2023)
- 2 cases, 2 fatalities
- Japanese Encephalitis Cases in India (2025)
- 224 confirmed cases across 11 states
- Japanese Encephalitis Fatalities in Assam (2025)
- 26 fatalities
- Common Symptoms of Brain Infections
- High fever, intense headache, stiff neck, unusual drowsiness, confusion, seizures, weakness on one side of the body
- Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) Progression
- Can progress quickly and be fatal if not treated immediately
- Climate Change Impact
- Creates favorable mosquito breeding habitats, increases geographic distribution of mosquitoes, and increases mosquito-to-host contact