Brain-eating amoeba claims first life of 2015

KWSB, KMC asked to take steps against deadly virus 

MN Report

KARACHI- Sindh health department has asked its officers as well as the officials of the provincial local government department, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to take proper measures to ensure no one becomes victim of deadly brain-eating amoeba aka naegleria fowleri.

The deadly disease had claimed 14 lives in Sindh last year and 12 of them were the resident of Karachi.

The first victim of the deadly disease was an 18-year-old girl who died last month in a private hospital of Karachi. The deceased, who was later confirmed to have infected with the brain-eating amoeba, was the resident of Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

The incident set warning bells ringing in the corridors of the health authorities who sent letters to its officers as well as to those belonging the Sindh local government department, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and KWSB, asking them to be vigilant to prevent the incidence of the disease in the coming months of summer.

The hot weather conditions are considered to be favourable for the germs that nurtures in warm waters and attacks humans through nasal cavity.

Through the warning letters sent to the KMC’s health services’ senior director and all directors of health services across the province, the health department asked them to be aware of naegleria fowleri, also known as brain-eating amoeba, which is found in freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, soil and swimming pools.

All of them have been requested to take immediate necessary measures, including awareness of medical, paramedical staff and general public as well as sampling from water reservoirs to assess their chlorination status and safety for human consumption.

Apprising about the symptoms of the naegleria infection, the letter said that signs and symptoms of the deadly infection could be overlooked as those closely mimicked other ailments like meningitis, bacterial or viral or tuberculosis forms, hence all samples drawn in case of suspected meningitis should be examined for naegleria organism, as well.