Year’s first naegleria death reported from Gulistan-e-Jauhar

18-year-old Areeba dies at Aga Khan University Hospital.

KARACHI: The first naegleria death of 2015, believed to have been caused by the deadly brain-eating amoeba, surfaced on Wednesday as a young girl died at a private hospital.

Eighteen-year-old Areeba, a resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, was admitted at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) a few days back and died on Tuesday. "It is a confirmed case of naegleria [fowleri]," said Karachi health services director Dr Zafar Ejaz. He said that the hospital management informed the health services department on Wednesday.

Dr Ejaz said that water samples were taken on Thursday. "We have to go through the history and ascertain the exact location of the area from where she was affected," he said.

Health officials have also sent a letter to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), requesting them to ensure proper chlorination of water.

The peak season of naegleria has started which will continue till July. Dr Ejaz said cases might get reported as long as September.

Last year, 10 deaths caused by naegleria were reported from different parts of the city, including Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Korangi and Garden. Last year's first death of the province caused by the brain-eating amoeba was reported in the last week of May. The death was reported from the same vicinity as this year.

Dr Ejaz suggested that citizens should use boiled water at least to wash their nose. He also said that chlorination tablets are available in the market which should be used.

Azam Khan, an official of the KWSB and the focal person of the Naegleria Committee, believed that the deceased was infected after swimming in a pool located near Gulshan-e-Maymar. "Our water supplied to the houses is clear," he claimed, referring to a recent report of the AKUH.

Khan said that he is in contact with the AKU and World Health Organisation (WHO) teams. "I haven't received any letter from the health department as yet," he said, adding that he has asked the WHO teams to collect water samples from Areeba's house and neighbouring residences.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2015.