Brain-eating amoeba claims 12th life in city

Special wards set up at JPMC for Congo virus patients

KARACHI:

A 38-year-old man became the latest victim of Naegleria fowleri on Saturday, taking the number of lives lost to the fatal brain-eating amoeba this year to 12, as per the Sindh Health Department.

The victim, a resident of Gulshan-e-Maymar, Scheme 33, exhibited telltale symptoms of fever, headache, and vomiting on November 7. Despite taking prescribed medicines and staying at home, the victim’s condition worsened. On Nov 9, he was rushed to the emergency room of a private hospital where he was admitted in the ICU ward, according to the Health Department. Unfortunately, he could not recover and passed away on Friday night.

Symptoms of Naegleria fowleri include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, altered mental status, and seizures. Medical experts say that Naegleria fowleri is a brain-eating amoeba, and it can be easily neutralised by chlorine. Addition of chlorine to municipal water tanks is recommended, following the World Health Organisation guidelines.

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Meanwhile, as per the directives of the caretaker health minister, the JPMC has established special wards for Congo virus patients, each equipped with eight beds. One ward, located in the hospital's emergency department, will screen suspected cases in the initial phase. Confirmed cases of Congo virus will be admitted to another ward in the medical ICU.

A meeting addressing the Congo virus issue was conducted at the JPMC, led by Executive Director Prof Shahid Rasool and Dean Dr Masroor Ahmed. Participants included Deputy Executive Director Dr Yahya, Joint Executive Director Dr Sulaiman, Deputy Director Dr Nausheen, Assistant Director Dr Yasin Imrani, Deputy Director Dr Kausar, Head of Medical ICU Dr Zeeshan, and Assistant Director Dr Adeel.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2023.