Overview

• Health minister Veena George said the broader encephalitis causes remain undetermined even as the state scales diagnostics across all microbiology labs.
• Kerala introduced direct cerebrospinal fluid microscopy and in-state PCR under 2024 technical guidelines to speed confirmation and treatment.
• Authorities report no single cluster this year, contrasting with a 2024 episode tied to a common water source.
• The government is running statewide awareness campaigns and mass chlorination and is working with the National Institute of Epidemiology and the Indian Institute of Science.
• Experts note infections occur when contaminated freshwater enters the nose during activities like swimming or bathing, and they stress early detection to improve survival.