A 23-year-old male resident of Orangi Town, Karachi has died of Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba, marking the second such fatality in Sindh this year.
According to health officials, the deceased began experiencing symptoms on May 28, 2025, and was admitted to a private hospital on May 30.
Medical tests confirmed the presence of the deadly brain-eating amoeba on June 1, and the patient succumbed to the infection on June 3.
Naegleria fowleri is a rare but often fatal infection that attacks the brain, usually after contaminated water enters the body through the nose.
In this case, authorities noted that the patient had not taken part in any recreational water activities like swimming or diving. His only known water exposure involved domestic water use and performing ablution (wuzu) at a nearby mosque.
This fatal case has raised concerns about the safety and chlorination levels of the city’s water supply, particularly in high-density areas like Orangi Town.
Health officials are urging citizens to ensure the use of chlorinated water, especially during ablution and other nasal cleansing practices, as Naegleria thrives in warm, untreated freshwater.
