KARACHI: A young man reportedly infected with life-threatening Naegleria fowleri, better known as brain-eating amoeba, is recovering, it emerged on Tuesday.

According to sources, 22-year-old Mudassir has been under treatment for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) at the PNS Shifa Hospital for over three weeks.

He was taken off the ventilator four days ago.

Speaking to Dawn, Director Health Services of Karachi Dr Abdul Hameed Jumani confirmed that the patient’s condition was now stable.

“He has been shifted to the general ward and is being treated for sensory impairment. Timely diagnosis and treatment seem to have worked for the patient,” Director of Health Services Karachi Dr Abdul Hameed Jumani told Dawn, describing the case as ‘unique’.

“We are waiting for more details. Once they are available, this could be Pakistan’s first surviving case of Naegleria.”

According to the Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US, only four people have survived out of 157 known infected individuals in the United States from 1962 to 2022.

It might be recalled that every year the deadly infection, which can easily be prevented by disinfecting the water with chlorine, claims several lives in Karachi.

This year, the authorities have reported five deaths from the infection in the city. The last mortality was reported on June 7. The deceased was a DHA resident and reportedly bathed in a swimming pool in his locality.

In May, the health department confirmed three deaths from Naegleria in a short span of one week in the metropolis. None of the three victims had a history of swimming and it appeared that the infection occurred due to the use of contaminated, or non-chlorinated, tap water.

A free living amoeba, Naegleria is commonly found in warm fresh water (such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs) and soil. Only one species of Naegleria infects people: Naegleria fowleri.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2023