Naegleria claims another life in Karachi

KARACHI: Another patient has fallen victim to the Naegleria Fowleri virus, increasing the deaths caused by the amoeba to 13 in the current year.

Jamshed, 20, a resident of Yousuf Goth, died during treatment at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), two days after he was diagnosed with the Naeglaria virus. Head of Microbiology Department at the Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education Dr Syeda Sadaf said that a rise has been observed in the number of Naegleria Fowleri cases due to hot weather. Naeglaria has no cure, she said, while stressing on the importance of adopting preventive measures against Naegleria. Using chlorinated water according to international standards, using boiled water for drinking, regularly cleaning water tanks and performing ablution are some of the preventative measures she outlined to stay safe from becoming a victim to Naegleria. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2019.