Amoebic meningoencephalitis is a rare infection caused by certain brain-eating amoebae that naturally live in our environment, and climate, temperature, and urban water stagnation are major reasons for its rise in Kerala, said health experts on Tuesday.

Amoebic encephalitis is a rare but fatal central nervous system infection caused by free-living amoebae, Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba, found in freshwater lakes and rivers.

There are two types of amoebic encephalitis, namely primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE).