The Karnataka government has issued a new health advisory for people travelling to the Sabarimala temple after cases of a dangerous infection called amoebic meningoencephalitis (brain-eating amoeba) were reported. This infection is caused by Naegleria fowleri, also known as the “brain-eating amoeba.” The government says the guidelines are necessary to protect pilgrims and prevent the spread of the disease.

According to the Health Department, Naegleria fowleri is a type of amoeba that lives in warm freshwater and wet sandy areas. It is commonly found in stagnant water, puddles, and swimming pools.The infection does not spread from person to person, and it does not spread by drinking contaminated water. The danger occurs only when water containing the amoeba enters the nose.

When this happens, the amoeba can travel to the brain and cause a rare but very serious illness called amoebic meningoencephalitis. The disease is often fatal, which is why the government is urging pilgrims to take precautions. Pilgrims have been advised to make sure that water does not enter the nose while bathing during the Sabarimala trip. Health officials recommend using nose clips as an extra safety measure. They also said that anyone who develops symptoms like fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, confusion, or unusual behaviour after coming in contact with water should immediately visit the nearest government hospital.

As the Sabarimala pilgrimage season has started, Kerala’s Health Department has also reminded devotees to be cautious while bathing, especially in rivers and ponds along the pilgrimage route. The advisory was released after a rise in cases of the infection in Kerala. Every year, a large number of devotees from Karnataka visit the Sabarimala temple. The shrine is one of the most important pilgrimage centres for Ayyappa devotees, and Karnataka has many Ayyappan temples.

This year, the crowd has been especially large. Nearly two lakh devotees arrived at the Sabarimala shrine within just 48 hours of the temple opening for the annual mandala-makaravilakku season. On November 16 alone, more than 53,000 pilgrims visited the temple. Due to the heavy footfall, long queues have formed from Pamba, the base of the hill, to the Sannidhanam, causing delays of up to 10 hours for darshan. Officials say they are trying to manage the rush, but the sheer number of devotees is creating crowd-control challenges.