On Wednesday 14-year-old Adeel Nazir, a resident of Korangi, was diagnosed with the amoebic infection and died just a day later. According to health officials, Nazir went for a picnic around 20 days back but returned without any problems. He was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday and was diagnosed on Wednesday.
The health EDO, Dr Imdadullah Siddiqui, told*“The Express Tribune”*that Nazir’s death was the first one caused by the deadly amoeba this year and the health department has responded promptly to control the disease from spreading. The health minister and health secretary had organised meetings to discuss the ways in which more infections can be prevented. “A mass awareness campaign about the lethal organism will be conducted and strong connections will be built with the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) for ensuring the right percentage of chlorine in the water.” Siddiqui said the health minister has called for another meeting to be held on Monday.
Dr Naseem Salahuddin, a senior consultant at Indus Hospital, said that there are almost no chances of survival when someone has been infected by the parasite. It gets into the brain where it multiplies, she said. Dr Salahuddin said that young people seem to be more vulnerable to infection but people from any age group can fall prey to the tiny organism. “There is no cure because there has been very little research on the subject.”
KWSB has established a monitoring cell to check water supply to the city. KWSB officers of all five districts have been directed to collect water samples and a report would be submitted to media daily.
Re: Brain eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri
Is it drinking water related infection?
I think it was diagnosed around six months back, when most people added chlorine to their water reservoirs.
Yes it was diagnosed six months back but the situation was pretty much under control and now this is the first case of the year.It does not infect through drinking,the amoeba travels from nasal to brain i.e most likely through ablution.