City reports first Naegleria death of 2026

Family says 44-year-old had no recent travel history or visits to swimming pools

KARACHI:

The city has reported its first confirmed death from the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, this year, after a 44-year-old Korangi resident died during treatment days after being diagnosed with the rare but almost always fatal infection.

According to hospital officials, the father of two, a resident of Korangi, was admitted to a private hospital on July 5 with high fever, severe headache and neurological complications. Following medical examinations and diagnostic tests, he was confirmed positive for Naegleria fowleri on July 6. As the infection caused severe brain inflammation, the patient's condition deteriorated and he was shifted to the intensive care unit on a ventilator, where he later died. Family members said they had been trying to shift him to another hospital because of the mounting treatment costs, but he passed away before the transfer could take place.

The family also said the patient had no recent history of travelling outside Karachi or abroad and had not visited any swimming pool or water park. They believe he may have contracted the infection after contaminated water entered his nose while performing ablution.

According to the Sindh Health Department, seven cases of Naegleria fowleri were reported last year, while this is the first confirmed case and the first death recorded in the province this year.

Health experts say Naegleria fowleri is a highly dangerous amoeba that typically thrives in warm freshwater. It enters the body through the nose, reaches the brain and causes a severe infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which progresses rapidly and has no effective treatment. Experts have advised residents to ensure proper chlorination of household water tanks and stored water, as adequate chlorine levels are effective in preventing the growth of Naegleria fowleri.