Brain eating amoeba raises its ugly head

Maryam Shakeel, a 36-year-old woman from Karachi, has fallen victim to a rare and deadly infection, succumbing to the Naegleria that has been lurking in the city's water supply. Maryam died despite medical efforts, highlighting the concern over the presence of the brain-eating amoeba in the city's water.

The deceased was admitted to the hospital on February 19 after experiencing severe fever symptoms. Her medical tests confirmed the presence of Naegleria, a waterborne amoeba, on February 24. Despite medical efforts, she passed away in the following days.

District Health Officer of East Karachi Dr Zahid Solangi confirmed to The Express Tribune that the woman had tested positive for Naegleria, leading to her demise. He explained that the amoeba thrives in clean water during extreme heat conditions, particularly when temperatures exceed 35°C.

The deceased, identified as Maryam Shakeel, was a resident of Gulshan-e-Iqbal. A report on her death has been sent to the Director General of Health, and authorities have been advised to ensure proper chlorination of water supplies. Dr Solangi emphasised that insufficient chlorine levels in water lead to the growth of Naegleria and other harmful microorganisms.

He further stated that the only way to prevent Naegleria is to ensure that water tanks contain the required amount of chlorine. Notably, Naegleria is an incurable disease. The amoeba enters the human brain through the nose and mouth, leading to fatal consequences.