KARACHI: The Sindh health department has announced this year’s first death from Naegleria fowleria, commonly known as brain-eating amoeba, in Karachi.

According to officials, a 36-year-old woman, a resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, died of the deadly infection at a private hospital on Feb 23.

The patient, they said, began experiencing symptoms on Feb 18 and was admitted to a hospital a day later. The presence of Naegleria fowleri was confirmed in the patient on Feb 24, a day after the patient had passed away, they added.

“Upon investigation, it was noted that the patient had not participated in any water related activities. Her only exposure was regular use of water to perform ablution (wuzu) five times a day at home,” said a press release.

Popularly known as “brain-eating amoeba”, Naegleria fowleri is responsible for the disease called Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). The infection is fatal in 98 per cent of the cases.

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

It infects people when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose. This typically happens when people go swimming, diving, or when they put their heads under fresh water, like in lakes and rivers. The amoeba then travels up the nose to the brain where it destroys the brain tissues and causes the PAM.

The first symptoms of the PAM usually start about five days after infection that may include headache, fever, nausea or vomiting. Later, symptoms can include stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. After symptoms start, the disease progresses rapidly and usually causes death within five days. The germ cannot survive in clean and chlorinated water.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2025