KARACHI: A 29-year-old male resident of District Central, Karachi, has died from Naegleria fowleri infection, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths from the brain-eating amoeba in Sindh this year to five.
According to health department sources, the patient began experiencing symptoms on September 7 and was admitted to a private hospital on September 11, where he passed away the same day. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri on September 12, after the patient’s death.
Health officials noted that the deceased had not engaged in any recreational water activities such as swimming or water sports. His only known exposure was the regular use of tap water for drinking and bathing, suggesting the possibility of contamination in domestic water supplies.
The Sindh Health Department has urged residents to take preventive measures, including ensuring adequate chlorination of domestic water, avoiding the use of untreated tap water for nasal cleansing, and boiling water for drinking where necessary.
