A 23-year-old man from Karachi has died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba, marking Pakistan’s second fatality from the infection in 2025, the Sindh Health Department confirmed on Wednesday.
The deceased, a resident of Orangi Town, was hospitalized on May 30 after experiencing symptoms on May 28. His condition worsened rapidly, and he passed away on June 3. Lab tests confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri on June 1.
The health department noted that the patient had not been involved in any recreational water activities. His only reported exposure was regular domestic water use and performing ablution at a nearby mosque.
Naegleria fowleri is a rare but deadly organism found in warm freshwater. It infects the brain when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. The disease is not transmissible from person to person and has a fatality rate exceeding 98 percent. Symptoms include severe headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, sensitivity to light, and altered taste. Most patients succumb within five to seven days of infection.
This is the second Naegleria death in Karachi this year. In March, a 36-year-old woman also died from the infection. Pakistan has recorded over 100 fatalities from Naegleria fowleri since the first confirmed case in 2008, including five deaths in 2024 alone.
Health officials have urged the public to ensure proper chlorination of water tanks, avoid nasal exposure to unclean water, and remain vigilant about hygiene, particularly during hot weather when the amoeba thrives.
