Karachi has unfortunately recorded its first death of the year caused by the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri.
The victim, a 36-year-old woman residing in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, began experiencing symptoms consistent with the infection on February 18. She was admitted to a private hospital the next day as her condition deteriorated. Despite medical intervention, she tragically passed away on February 23.
Following her death, laboratory tests conducted on February 24 confirmed that Naegleria fowleri was the culprit behind her fatal condition. Health officials investigating the case noted that the patient had no documented history of engaging in water-related activities, such as swimming or diving, which are commonly associated with the transmission of this deadly amoeba. This raised concerns among experts that the infection may have contracted during the act of ablution (wudu), a common practice among the Muslim community for ritual purification.
Naegleria fowleri is known to thrive in warm, freshwater environments, such as lakes and hot springs, and can enter the body through the nasal passages. Once inside the brain, it can cause a rare but severe infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which often leads to rapid neurological damage and death. Health officials are emphasizing the importance of ensuring safe water practices, especially during the warmer months, to prevent further cases of this rare but deadly infection.
