Naegleria claims first life in Karachi this year
23-year-old Aslam, resident of Tando Allahyar, used to swim in a pond
STOCK PHOTO
KARACHI:
Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the 'brain-eating' amoeba, claimed its first life in Karachi of this year.
Twenty-three-year-old Aslam, son of Muhammad Hassan and resident of Tando AllahYar, used to swim in a pond situated in his hometown.
He was brought to the Liaquat National Hospital in a critical condition at 3am on Wednesday and was put on ventilator. The hospital confirmed that naegleria was the cause of his death. Talking to The Express Tribune, the focal person of naegleria-related deaths in Sindh, Dr Zafar Mehdi, said he has sent an official to the hospital to collect the details on the case.
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The director-general of the health department, Dr Muhammad Tofique, also confirmed that it was a naegleria-related death. "The death of Aslam is the first reported case of naegleria in the province," he said.
According to him, the surveillance team of the health department has been sent to take details from the site and collect water samples from the pond in Haji Ismail Magsi Goth in Tando Allahyar district.
"Since there is no treatment of naegleria, the only way is to take preventative measures such as use of chlorinated water and giving health education to citizens," he said.
Last year, the brain-eating amoeba claimed two lives whereas in 2015, 14 people died due to the disease, said the health director-general.
Preventive measures
According to an international water technologist, Dr Ahsan Siddiqui, naegleria is a 'brain-eating amoeba' that exists in unconscious state in temperature between 23oC and 25oC. However, its activity increases with rising temperatures.
At 39oC, its activity is the maximum, he pointed out. Water storage tanks that are underground or fiberglass overhead tanks don't allow water to evaporate, which results in an increase in temperature, he said.
According to Siddiqui, the best way to avoid naegleria is by using an oxidising agent, which results in decreasing the amount of oxygen level in water to less than 12 milligrammes – the amount necessary for any living organism in water.
"Sodium pentachlorophenol is the best oxidising agent for killing all types of bacteria in water for drinking purpose," he said. Other options include chlorine gas, which is induced through a chlorinator.
The third and the most easily available option is the use of sodium hypochlorite, commonly known as liquid bleach.
Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the 'brain-eating' amoeba, claimed its first life in Karachi of this year.
Twenty-three-year-old Aslam, son of Muhammad Hassan and resident of Tando AllahYar, used to swim in a pond situated in his hometown.
He was brought to the Liaquat National Hospital in a critical condition at 3am on Wednesday and was put on ventilator. The hospital confirmed that naegleria was the cause of his death. Talking to The Express Tribune, the focal person of naegleria-related deaths in Sindh, Dr Zafar Mehdi, said he has sent an official to the hospital to collect the details on the case.
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The director-general of the health department, Dr Muhammad Tofique, also confirmed that it was a naegleria-related death. "The death of Aslam is the first reported case of naegleria in the province," he said.
According to him, the surveillance team of the health department has been sent to take details from the site and collect water samples from the pond in Haji Ismail Magsi Goth in Tando Allahyar district.
"Since there is no treatment of naegleria, the only way is to take preventative measures such as use of chlorinated water and giving health education to citizens," he said.
Last year, the brain-eating amoeba claimed two lives whereas in 2015, 14 people died due to the disease, said the health director-general.
Preventive measures
According to an international water technologist, Dr Ahsan Siddiqui, naegleria is a 'brain-eating amoeba' that exists in unconscious state in temperature between 23oC and 25oC. However, its activity increases with rising temperatures.
At 39oC, its activity is the maximum, he pointed out. Water storage tanks that are underground or fiberglass overhead tanks don't allow water to evaporate, which results in an increase in temperature, he said.
According to Siddiqui, the best way to avoid naegleria is by using an oxidising agent, which results in decreasing the amount of oxygen level in water to less than 12 milligrammes – the amount necessary for any living organism in water.
"Sodium pentachlorophenol is the best oxidising agent for killing all types of bacteria in water for drinking purpose," he said. Other options include chlorine gas, which is induced through a chlorinator.
The third and the most easily available option is the use of sodium hypochlorite, commonly known as liquid bleach.