Brain-eating bug claims youth’s life bringing 2024 death toll in Karachi to five

A 19-year-old youth from District East has died due to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by Naegleria fowleri, a rare but deadly brain-eating amoeba.

The patient succumbed to the infection on Monday morning at a private hospital in Karachi, following a 12-day battle with the illness, said a spokesperson for the Sindh health department.

The teenager, began experiencing symptoms of the disease on August 18, and was admitted to the hospital three days later on August 21. Despite efforts to treat him, his condition worsened, and the presence of Naegleria fowleri was confirmed on August 25.

Health officials noted that the patient had not participated in any water-related activities, which are typically associated with contracting the amoeba. His only known exposure to water was through the regular practice of ablution five times a day at home and occasionally at a nearby mosque. The fatal infection brings the total number of Naegleria fowleri deaths in Sindh this year to five, with four of the cases occurring in Karachi and one in Hyderabad. The amoeba, which thrives in warm water, enters the human body through the nose and travels to the brain, causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The disease is almost always fatal, with symptoms including high fever, headaches, stiff neck, vomiting, and seizures.

Naegleria fowleri infections are preventable with adequate chlorination of water. The health department spokesperson reiterated the need for proper chlorination of public and private water supplies to combat the spread of the amoeba. They urged residents to take precautions when using water for personal hygiene, particularly in areas where water treatment was inadequate.

This year’s fatalities have raised concerns about water safety in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, as the authorities continue to face challenges in ensuring proper water treatment protocols. Before the youth’s death on Monday, three deaths from Naegleria fowleri in Karachi occurred in July and one in August.