Naegleria fowleri

Each year, several people in Karachi lose their lives to naegleria fowleri often dubbed as brain-eating amoeba. Within the past week, three people died after succumbing to the brain infection. Karachi, being a sub-tropical region, provides the pathogen with favourable ecological conditions to live and grow in. The pathogen usually lives in the mud accumulated in the overhead and underground water tanks and becomes active and starts multiplying when water becomes warm and suitable for its growth in the summers.

The risks of contracting the infection are higher during the summer as people are more inclined to shower more frequently, perform ablution and bathe in open waterbodies. Chlorine tablets or chemicals containing chlorine can be used to disinfect the water and kill all harmful bacteria. Yet the water and sewerage board and the public fail to take the precautionary measures beforehand. With the monsoon season just around the corner, the threat of naegleria and other water-borne diseases will multiply, particularly in warmer regions of Sindh. Additionally, the absence of potable and clean water has forced many people living in impoverished areas to use untreated water for drinking and sanitation. Others resort to water tankers.

Poverty, poor access to public healthcare and a lack of awareness about proper sanitation have aggravated the incidence of epidemic outbreaks and water-borne diseases in the country. It is high time that the authorities acknowledged the problems of the masses and improved the water supply to all regions of the country. Public awareness campaigns along with proper treatment of water either by chlorination, filtration or disinfection should be carried out to reduce the risks of the infection. Otherwise, the country will continue experiencing a rise in cases of naegleria fowleri.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2023.

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