Third Naegleria Death Reported in Karachi This Year
News Desk
Karachi: Karachi has reported its third death from Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba,” this year, health officials confirmed.
The latest victim, Muhammad Amjad, 44, a resident of Korangi No. 4, was admitted to a private hospital after developing a high fever. His condition rapidly deteriorated, prompting doctors to shift him to the intensive care unit (ICU), where laboratory tests confirmed infection with Naegleria fowleri.
According to hospital officials, this is the third confirmed fatality linked to the deadly amoeba in Karachi in 2026. The first case was reported from Gulshan-e-Iqbal in February, while the second was recorded in Orangi Town in June.
Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic amoeba that typically enters the human body through the nose, usually during exposure to contaminated water. Once inside, it travels to the brain, causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but almost always fatal infection.
Health experts say the organism thrives in warm freshwater and poorly maintained water storage systems, making contaminated water a significant public health concern. The disease has a mortality rate of more than 95 percent.
Symptoms usually appear within two to three days of infection and include severe headache, high fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, and altered mental status. The infection progresses rapidly and can prove fatal within days if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
Medical experts have urged residents to take preventive measures, including regularly cleaning and disinfecting underground and overhead water tanks, keeping water storage tanks properly covered, and using boiled or properly treated water for nasal cleansing and other activities where water may enter the nose. Boiling water for five to eight minutes effectively kills the amoeba.
Health authorities have also advised the public to exercise caution while using water from potentially contaminated sources and to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms develop following exposure to untreated water. Additional input from Samaa News website.
