Kerala reports 70 plus cases and 20 deaths in brain-eating amoeba outbreakKerala has reported more than 70 cases and 20 deaths due to Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, or PAM – a rare but highly fatal brain infection – also known as the “brain-eating amoeba", authorities said. Even though the disease is not a serious threat in Tamil Nadu, authorities say simple precautions can reduce risks during trips. From there, the amoeba goes to your brain when you may be swimming, diving, or doing something like water skiing in infected water. In extremely rare cases, the infected water can be heated tap water or swimming pool water that is not chlorinated enough. You cannot be infected by swallowing infected water.