Naegleria fowleri strikes again: 19-year-old dies in Karachi

By Mukhtar Alam

KARACHI: A 19-year-old man succumbed to Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba, in Karachi, marking the fifth fatality in Sindh this year. Health authorities revealed the victim, a resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, suffered from the infection for 15 days before passing away on September 2.

According to experts, Naegleria fowleri, which causes Primary Amoeba Meningoencephalitis (PAM), has claimed 95 lives in Karachi since its emergence 15 years ago. Pakistan ranks second globally in Naegleria fowleri-related deaths, after the United States.



The amoeba thrives in inadequately chlorinated water, particularly during high temperatures. The victim's only exposure was regular use of water for ablution at home and a nearby mosque.

With a 99% fatality rate, PAM cases rarely provide direct insight into symptoms and risk factors. Despite efforts, little is known about actions taken by health officers to address water quality concerns in affected areas.

An official estimated that only the Sindh province of Pakistan reported about 9 or so fatalities due to the brain eating amoeba in 2023, followed by four cases in Karachi and one in Hyderabad of the province in 2024, so far.

The latest victim, according to official communications, a 19-year-old student and professional footballer, passed away on September 2 at a private hospital. Initially, he received treatment from a local physician, experiencing brief symptomatic relief, and even resumed playing football for a day. However, his condition rapidly deteriorated, prompting admission to a private hospital on Stadium Road on August 21.

He was initially kept under observation, then transferred to another teaching hospital on Stadium Road on the same day. By August 23, he was on ventilators, and Naegleria fowleri presence was confirmed in his cerebrospinal fluid sample on August 25, according to the District East health administration's report.

Notably, the patient had no history of swimming or water-related activities, such as visiting recreational farms. His only exposure was regular use of water for ablution at home and a nearby mosque.

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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