Karachi: A teenage boy has succumbed to Naegleria fowleri, also known as the “brain-eating amoeba,” at a local hospital, according to health officials.
This marks the fourth fatality from this lethal infection in Karachi this year.
The 19-year-old, a resident of Karachi’s District East, began showing symptoms on August 18. He was admitted to a private hospital on August 21, and the presence of Naegleria fowleri was confirmed on August 25.
The health department noted that the patient had not engaged in any water-related activities. His only exposure to water was through regular ablution five times a day at home and occasionally at a nearby mosque.
In 2023, Naegleria fowleri caused the deaths of 10 individuals, leading to Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a disease with a 98% fatality rate.
Since 2012, Karachi has reported over 100 cases of Naegleria fowleri, with only one patient surviving for three months. However, another patient in 2023 made a full recovery.
Naegleria is a free-living amoeba found in warm fresh water, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs, as well as in soil. Of the many species of Naegleria, only Naegleria fowleri infects humans, typically through the nose when people swim, dive, or immerse their heads in freshwater sources.