Naegleria claims life of youngster in Karachi

KARACHI: 19 year old male, resident of District East Karachi passed away from Naegleria Fowleri, Brain-eating amoeba at a private hospital in Karachi on Monday.

The patient started experiencing symptoms on August 18 2024 and was admitted in the hospital on August 21 2024. The presence of Naegleria Fowleri was confirmed in the patient on August 25 2024.

Upon investigation it was noted that the patient had not participated in any water related activities. His only exposure was regular use of water to perform ablution (wuzu) five times a day at home and occasionally to a nearby mosque.

In 2024, Naegleria Fowleri claimed five lives in Sindh province this year so far out of which four reported in Karachi and one in Hyderabad.

The experts said Naegleria is a Brain-eating amoeba that grows in clean water and is capable of eating the human brain by infecting the brain membrane through the nose, causing death. Naegleria does not reach the brain through the mouth, nor does the bacterium survive in salt water.

According to medical experts, 50% chlorine in water is necessary to prevent Naegleria.

Medical experts also say that household tanks should be cleaned at least twice a year, chlorine tablets should be used, and water should be boiled at 100 degrees Celsius for drinking and ablution to kill Naegleria.

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Experts say that to protect citizens from Naegleria, the water board should ensure the required amount of chlorine in the water, in addition to keeping the nose above the water as a precaution while swimming in the swimming pool.