Naegleria fowleri strikes again, exposes Karachi's water woes
By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: A 36-year-old housewife living in District East Karachi became the first victim of Naegleria fowleri in 2025, succumbing to the brain-eating amoeba at a private hospital on February 23. The case has raised concerns over the deteriorated drinking water quality in the megapolis, particularly during the moderately cold temperatures. According to health authorities, the woman, a resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, developed primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) after using tap water for ablution (wuzu) five times a day. She suffered from fever, headache, vomiting, and altered consciousness for six days before passing away. A preliminary inspection report revealed that the woman was pregnant. Initially, she developed a fever and took paracetamol. Her hospital declared her a lab-confirmed Naegleria fowleri case a day after her death. The initial investigators found that the patient had not participated in any water-related activities, which are typically considered the...