Naegleria Outbreak: Brain-Eating Amoeba Claims Life
The amoeba enters the brain and attacks the nervous system through the nasal cavity, and can be prevented through proper chlorination or boiling of water. Pakistan reported five Naegleria fowleri deaths in 2024, with four in Karachi and one in Hyderabad, highlighting the need for increased awareness and precautions to prevent the disease.
A 36-year-old woman from Karachi has died from Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba, after contracting the disease from using tap water for ablution at home, highlighting the need for proper chlorination of water supplies.
The woman, Maryam Shakeel, was hospitalized on February 19 with severe fever symptoms and tested positive for Naegleria six days later. Despite medical efforts, she died on February 23. Dr. Zahid Solangi, District Health Officer of East Karachi, confirmed that Maryam had tested positive for Naegleria, leading to her demise. The report of her death has been sent to the Director General of Health, and authorities have been advised to ensure proper chlorination of water supplies.
Naegleria fowleri is responsible for Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a fatal disease that kills 98% of its victims. The amoeba is commonly found in warm fresh water and soil, and enters the body through the nose, typically when people swim, dive, or put their heads under water. The first symptoms of PAM include headache, fever, and nausea, which can progress to stiff neck, confusion, and coma, leading to death within five days.
Health experts advise people to clean their underground and overhead water tanks before summer and use chlorine tablets to purify water. Proper chlorination or boiling of water can prevent the growth of Naegleria and other harmful microorganisms. Insufficient chlorine levels in water lead to the growth of Naegleria, particularly when temperatures exceed 35°C.
The death of Maryam Shakeel has raised concerns about the safety of water supplies in Karachi, and authorities must take immediate action to ensure proper chlorination of water to prevent further deaths from Naegleria fowleri. This is the first reported death from Naegleria fowleri in Karachi in 2025, and the Sindh Health Department must take measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
