KARACHI: The Naegleria fowleri, brain-eating amoeba, has claimed another life in Karachi on Tuesday, pushing the tally to five this year, according to the Sindh Health Department.
The latest victim, a 19-year-old resident of the East district, succumbed to the infection after a 12-day battle with severe symptoms.
The Sindh Health Department said that the young man had been hospitalized for the past 12 days before passing away. The latest fatality brings the total number of Naegleria fowleri deaths in Sindh to five, including four in Karachi and one in Hyderabad.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) had previously issued an advisory in June due to a spike in cases of the deadly amoeba. Since its detection in Pakistan in 2008, Naegleria fowleri has caused several cases and fatalities, primarily in Karachi.
The NIH advisory highlighted the need for vigilance in managing water quality, as the amoeba thrives in inadequately chlorinated water.
Naegleria fowleri infection presents with symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, and neck stiffness. In its advanced stages, the infection can lead to coma and, ultimately, death. The advisory stresses the importance of maintaining proper chlorine levels in water supplies to prevent the amoeba’s growth, especially during periods of high temperatures.
The water supply department has been urged to adhere strictly to chlorine treatment guidelines to mitigate the risk of Naegleria fowleri infections. The advisory underscores that low chlorine levels in water, coupled with hot weather, are conducive to the survival and proliferation of the brain-eating amoeba.
