Karachi reports fifth death from ‘brain-eating amoeba’ this year

A victim arrives at a hospital for treatment in the Pakistan's port city of Karachi on February 19, 2020. (AFP/File)

• Naegleria fowleri is emerging problem in Pakistan, where first case was reported in 2008
• The country has since reported more than a hundred deaths from Naegleria fowleri

KARACHI: A 19-year-old man died after being infected by Naegleria fowleri, a “brain-eating amoeba,” in Karachi on Monday, health officials said, bringing the total of such deaths in the city to five this year.
The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, is found in freshwater habitats — lakes, ponds, rivers, hot springs — and poorly managed swimming pools and pipes connected to tap water. The microorganism can enter the human body through the nose and cause a sudden infection of the brain called naegleriasis. In most cases, the infection is fatal.
Symptoms of Naegleria fowleri infection include severe headache, changes in taste, high fever, sensitivity to light, nausea, and vomiting. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for survival.
Pakistan has seen a rise in Naegleria fowleri cases in recent years as over a hundred people have died of it since the first reported infection in 2008. Of the earlier fourth deaths in Karachi, three were reported in July this year, according to Meeran Yousuf, who speaks for health minister in the Sindh province where Karachi is located.
“A 19-year-old male, resident of District East Karachi passed away from Naegleria fowleri at a private hospital in Karachi on 2nd September 2024,” Yousuf told Arab News.
The deceased had begun experiencing symptoms on August 18 and was admitted to a private hospital on August 21, according to the official. The presence of Naegleria fowleri was confirmed on August 25.
“Upon investigation it was noted that the patient had not participated in any water-related activities,” Yousuf said. “His only exposure was regular use of water to perform ablution (wudhu) five times a day at home and occasionally at a nearby mosque.”
In one of the previous four cases this year, a 22-year-old garment factory worker died at Jinnah Hospital. His family said he had visited a nearby swimming pool with friends, according to the Sindh health department.
Subsequently, he developed a fever and was admitted to the hospital. His condition deteriorated and was put on ventilator support but could not survive.
Another patient admitted to Aga Khan Hospital died after “ten days of battle with high grade fever,” a hospital report said, adding the family suspected he had contracted the infection while performing ablution at a nearby mosque.
A 2021 Sindh health department study found that 95 percent of water samples in Karachi were unfit for human consumption, which experts attribute to the spread of the amoeba.