KARACHI: Health authorities in Pakistan’s Karachi city have issued a warning after a 21-year-old man lost his life to Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba. With rising temperatures in the city, people have sought relief by swimming; however, the low quantity of chlorine in the pools has made the presence of Naegleria fowleri prevalent.
The deceased young man, a resident of the Defence area of Karachi, had gone swimming at a private defense academy, according to Dr. Abdul Hameed Jumani, the Director of Health Karachi. Initially, he reported a fever but his condition deteriorated rapidly. He was admitted to a hospital on June 18 and unfortunately succumbed to the disease on July 6.
Presence of Naegleria Fowleri in Karachi
Dr. Jumani has advised caution while swimming and during ablution due to the presence of Naegleria fowleri. The Sindh health department has reported a total of five deaths in the province caused by this amoeba, with four cases originating in Karachi and one in Hyderabad.
Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba commonly found in water ponds, and it can lead to primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a severe disease that affects the central nervous system. Health authorities are urging individuals to take necessary precautions and avoid activities that may expose them to the amoeba, especially in poorly chlorinated water sources.
