Kerala, Karnataka issues health advisory for Sabarimala pilgrims

With the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season beginning, health authorities in Kerala and other States have issued advisories to Sabarimala devotees, with special emphasis on preventing water from entering the nose in the wake of amoebic meningoencephalitis (brain fever) cases reported in the State.

The advisories urged pilgrims under medical treatment to carry their records and medicines, with



the said regular medications not to be discontinued while preparing for the pilgrimage.

“Devotees bathing in rivers should ensure that no water enters their noses,” the Kerala Health department’s advisory said. Even though the advisory did not specify the reason for caution about bathing in rivers, a similar directive was issued when Kerala recently witnessed frequent cases of brain fever.