Naegleria claims life of 12th victim in current year

PTI MPA lashes out at provincial govt for failing to curb the spread of preventable diseases

KARACHI: The deadly Naegleria virus claimed another life in Karachi, taking the death toll in the current year to 12.

According to a health department spokesperson, the rise in the incidents of deaths caused by the water-borne disease is attributed to the increase in the city’s temperature and an inadequate amount of chlorine being added to the water being supplied to homes.

The spokesperson confirmed that the latest victim was identified as 16-year old Muhammad Sohaib, a resident of Mehmoodabad. The deceased had been admitted to a private hospital and after battling the disease for three days, lost his life on Monday.

Voicing concern

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Dr Imran Shah has expressed concern over the rising incidence of Naegleria cases in Karachi and said that the brain-eating amoeba has led to the tragic deaths of 12 people this year so far.

Naegleria Fowleri is a fatal viral which has no known cure to date, he lamented, adding that an epidemic is brewing in the city due to the incompetence and negligence of the provincial health department. “The PTI will soon present a motion regarding the spread of Naegleria virus and the health department’s negligence in coping with its spread,” he said.

Dr Shah further said that besides Naegleria, the rise in cases of Congo virus, dengue and HIV/AIDS are a matter of extreme concern, but the health department is playing the role of a silent spectator.

The provincial government has completely failed in ensuring the public health and saving citizens from preventable diseases, said Shah. “The chief minister has loaded his cabinet with an army of incompetent persons who are only busy in embezzling public money,” he remarked.

He demanded of the provincial health department to impose a health emergency in the city and take effective measures to curb the spread of all contagious diseases. “This government has become an enemy of the people,” he said, adding that it would be better if the chief minister and his cabinet resigned from their offices if they were not capable of ensuring the safety of life and property of citizens. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2019.