KARACHI: Naegleria Fowleri claimed another life in Karachi city, taking the disease death toll to two this year so far, Focal Person Naegleria Control Committee confirmed on Monday.
Focal Person for Naegleria Control Committee Sindh, Dr Syed Zafar Mehdi, while talking to PPI, said that a 16-year-old girl, Sana, resident of North Karachi, died in private hospital of Karachi. She was brought to the hospital on May 30, 2018 where she was diagnosed Naegleria Fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba disease, and died during treatment this noon.
On May 07, 2018, a 40-year-old man, Pervez, resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, died in private hospital of Karachi.
Health experts said Naegleria Fowleri is a brain-eating amoeba that enters through a person’s nose and starts consuming brain tissue. The amoeba loves warm water and can survive in high temperatures. Fresh water bodies such as ponds, lakes, swimming pools, as well as underground and overhead tanks, are the most common points.
The Sindh Health Department had also constituted a six-member focal group to formulate strategy for control of Naegleria Fowleri. Dr Syed Zafar Mehdi has been appointed as convener of the focal group.