Karachi registered his first death from Naegleria Fowleri when a 36 -year -old woman died of the disease last month, health officials said Monday.
The woman was a resident of Gulshan-E-Iqbal and died in a private hospital in Karachi on February 23, according to Meeran Yousuf, media coordinator of the Sindh Minister of Health.
“The patient began to experience symptoms on February 18 and was admitted to the hospital a day later. The presence of Naegleria Fowleri was confirmed in the patient on February 24, one day after the patient died, ”he said.
After the investigation, it was observed that the patient had not participated in any activity related to water. Its only exposure was the regular use of water to perform ablution (Wuzu) Five times a day at home.
“This is Naegleria Fowleri’s first death in 2025,” said Yousuf.
Popularly known as “ameba who eats brain”, Naegleria Fowleri is responsible for the disease called Meningencephalitis Primary Amebic (PAM). The infection is fatal in 98 percent of cases.
An amoeba of free life, Naegleria, is commonly found in warm fresh water (such as lakes, rivers and hot springs) and earth. Only his species, Naegleria Fowleri, infects people.
Infect people when the water contained in amoeba enters the body through the nose. This generally happens when people are going to swim, dive or when they put their heads under fresh water, such as in lakes and rivers.
The amoeba then travels through the nose to the brain, where it destroys brain tissues and causes the PAM.
The first symptoms of the PAM generally begin approximately five days after infection that can include headache, fever, nausea or vomiting. Subsequent symptoms may include rigid neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, seizures, hallucinations and coma.
After the symptoms begin, the disease progresses quickly and generally causes death in five days. The germ cannot survive in cold, clean and chlorinated water.
