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Another confirmed case of Naegleria case in Karachi has claimed the life of a 17-year-old boy, health officials confirmed on Saturday.
According to the preliminary case investigation report by the Sindh Health Department, the victim, Syed Ali Raza Shah, fell ill on June 25 and was admitted to Aga Khan University Hospital with fever, vomiting, and body aches.
Doctors conducted CSF and PCR tests, which confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri, a deadly brain-eating amoeba often found in unclean or warm freshwater sources.
The teenager remained on a ventilator in the ICU, but despite all efforts, he passed away on June 28, just three days after the onset of symptoms.
Health officials visited the boy’s residence and found that the storage water tank had not been cleaned for at least six months, possibly exposing him to the parasite.
Naegleria enters the body through the nose, usually during swimming or washing, and attacks the brain, causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) – a condition that is almost always fatal.
To prevent further cases, the Health Department announced an awareness campaign in the victim’s area on June 29 and 30, urging people to clean water tanks regularly.
Officials have advised residents to avoid using unclean water for nasal rinsing and to add chlorine to underground water tanks at regular intervals to kill harmful organisms.
