Thiruvananthapuram, September 19: A debate in the Kerala Assembly on amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but deadly brain infection, ended in a walkout by the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) on Wednesday after a spat with Health Minister Veena George.
The opposition accused the state government of mishandling the outbreak and failing to explain how people were contracting the disease. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the government had not reassured the public or provided clarity on risks, transmission routes or treatment, urging it to seek expertise from the federal government or external agencies.
Presenting the adjournment motion, UDF legislator N. Shamsuddeen said the administration had “failed to respond to the crisis appropriately.”
Replying to the debate, George said Kerala was one of the few states actively testing acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) cases for amoebic infection since the 2023 Nipah outbreak, which explained the increase in reported cases. She said district microbiology labs could detect the amoeba, with confirmation done at the State Public Health Lab, and stressed that treatment was not dependent on PCR confirmation.
The minister said the state had issued guidelines for the public and a treatment protocol for doctors, along with an action plan built on One Health principles. Preventive measures under the statewide “Jalamanu Jeevan” campaign included mass chlorination and cleaning of water sources such as ponds, wells and swimming pools.
Tensions flared when George questioned whether Shamsuddeen was aware of measures in his own constituency. Opposition legislators protested, demanding the right to reply. When the Speaker refused to interrupt the minister, Satheesan led the UDF in a walkout.
George later criticised the opposition for leaving midway through the discussion, saying they showed “no interest in either listening to the government’s explanation or offering constructive suggestions.”
