KARACHI: Pakistan has reported its first death from Naegleria fowleri in Karachi, a rare but deadly brain-eating amoeba, in 2025.
According to the Sindh Health Department, the brain-eating amoeba claimed the life of a 36-year-old woman from the Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighbourhood of Karachi.
The woman first showed symptoms on 18 February and was admitted to a private hospital on 19 February and passed away on 23 February.
Health officials noted that the woman had not engaged in any water-related activities. However, experts believe the infection may have been contracted during ablution (wudu), as the amoeba thrives in warm water and enters the brain through the nasal passages, causing severe damage.
Naegleria fowleri infections typically present with high fever, severe headaches, vomiting, and neck stiffness, eventually leading to coma and death in advanced stages.
Authorities have stressed the importance of maintaining proper chlorine levels in water supplies, especially during hot weather, to curb the amoeba’s growth. Health experts recommend adding chlorine tablets to water to eliminate harmful pathogens and reduce infection risks.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) had previously issued an advisory in June last year following a rise in Naegleria fowleri cases. Since its first detection in Pakistan in 2008, the amoeba has caused multiple deaths, primarily in Karachi, due to poorly chlorinated water sources.
Health officials urge vigilance in water management to prevent further cases of this fatal infection.
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