KARACHI: The Sindh health department on Wednesday confirmed the city’s second death from the deadly brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a single-celled organism commonly referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba”.

A 36-year-old woman died from the illness in February.

According to officials, a 23-year-old man, a resident of Orangi Town, died of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) — the infection caused by Naegleria fowleri — on June 3 at a private hospital.

“The patient started experiencing symptoms on May 28 and admitted to the hospital two days later. Investigations into the case indicated that the patient hadn’t participated in any water-related (swimming) activities,” the health department spokesperson, Meeran Yousuf, shared.

His only exposure was regular use of water at home and at a local mosque for performing ablution, she added.

Earlier, the deadly infection claimed the life of a 36-year-old woman, a resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, in February this year.

An amoeba found in rivers, lakes, springs, poorly chlorinated drinking water networks and swimming pools, Naegleria fowleri usually infects people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose.

Once the amoeba enters the nose, it travels to the brain where it causes PAM, which is fatal in 98 per cent of the cases. The disease progresses rapidly, with rising fever, worsening headache, vomiting and a stiff neck. Deep coma is followed by cardio-respiratory failure.

According to experts, Naegleria fowleri cannot survive in water that is clean, cool and adequately chlorinated. A lack of chlorination in water supplies has been a major problem in the city for decades.

The official records show that the first case of PAM was reported in Karachi in May 2012. The disease claimed 10 lives in six months that same year.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2025