Naegleria fowleri: Death toll reaches 10 as brain-eating amoeba claims another life

It has not yet been confirmed if he died because of the Naegleria Fowleri virus.

KARACHI: The tenth case, believed to have been caused by the deadly brain-eating amoeba, emerged on Friday as a 13-year-old student died.

The boy, Hashir, son of Zahid Hussain, and a resident of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, was admitted to the Darul Sehat Hospital on August 21 and died on August 26. However, it has not yet been confirmed if he died because of the Naegleria Fowleri.

"There is no confirmed report available," Karachi Health executive health officer Dr Zafar Ejaz told The Express Tribune. He said that the hospital lacks the laboratory test facility which could confirm if the boy died of the virus.

Meanwhile, a 50-year-old school teacher, Mehram Ali, from the Buchheri village near Nawabshah has been brought to the city.

According to health officials, he is a confirmed case of Naegleria. Ali is currently admitted to the National Medical Centre. He was brought to the hospital on Thursday and is said to be in critical condition. For now, he has been kept on a ventilator.

Cases which have been brought to public notice are those that were brought to reputable hospitals. However, the number of deaths could be more than the actual figure, said sources.

"There are a few hospitals which could confirm the case," said a doctor. "But if a patient died in a remote area, he won't be considered." He said that the health authorities are not taking appropriate measures across the province, including public awareness sessions.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2014.