Disease warning: Another death confirmed from naegleria

KARACHI: The Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) of WHO, working in coordination with the provincial health department, has detected yet another case of naegleria meningitis admitted to a private hospital in the Bahadurabad area, said a source in the health department on Tuesday. According to DEWS, a 27-year-old man living in Baldia Town, was admitted to a private hospital on July 11. His cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample tested positive for naegleria fowleri also known as ‘brain-eating amoeba’ on July 12 and due treatment was started on the same day, but he expired on July 13. Like previous cases, the deceased had no history of swimming. Naegleria fowleri usually occurs in infested swimming pools and ponds and enters the victim through nose. The latest death brought the tally of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis deathsto five in the city for 2012.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2012.