Around Globe

A 22 year old man from Karachi, Pakistan has become the latest victim of the brain eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Aurangzeb from Cattle Colony had gone on a picnic with friends to a farmhouse in Quaidabad where they went swimming in a pool. Next day Aurangzeb started feeling fever, headache and nausea. He was admitted to the hospital and treated but unfortunately he died of the infection, third victim of Naegleria fowleri in Karachi this year.

Naegleria fowleri also known as the brain eating amoeba is a free living organism found in warm freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers and hot springs. It can also be found in soil. The amoeba enters the human body through the nose and travels to the brain where it destroys brain tissue causing a rare and severe infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)
Infection occurs when people swim, dive or submerge their heads in contaminated water. In rare cases it can also occur through contaminated tap water or swimming pool water that is not properly chlorinated. Swallowing contaminated water does not cause infection

Symptoms of PAM appear within 2 to 15 days after exposure to the amoeba. Early symptoms are high fever, severe headache, nausea and vomiting. As the infection progresses patient may experience stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations and finally coma. The disease is rapid and almost always fatal with a mortality rate of over 97% even with treatment.
Naegleria fowleri is not contagious; an infected person cannot transmit the infection to others. But the outbreak of this deadly amoeba in Pakistan is a public health challenge because of its high mortality rate and limited treatment options.

In the US most of the Naegleria fowleri infections have occurred after swimming in freshwater in southern states. In 2012 a child was infected with Naegleria fowleri after swimming in a Minnesota lake. Illinois Department of Public Health has not received any reports of Naegleria fowleri infection.

Previous water testing has shown that Naegleria fowleri is found in warm freshwater bodies. So recreational water users should assume low risk when entering all warm freshwater. To reduce the risk of water going up the nose and lower the chances of Naegleria fowleri being in the water, people can hold their nose shut, use nose clips or keep their head above water when participating in water activities in warm freshwater bodies.

Researchers have called for improved public health preparedness including public awareness campaigns, enhanced healthcare infrastructure and robust water surveillance systems. Aurangzeb’s case is a tragic reminder of the danger of Naegleria fowleri and the importance of taking precautions when participating in water activities.

In conclusion the brain eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri is a rare but deadly threat and we need to be vigilant and preventive. As the climate changes we need to be more vigilant and work towards developing strategies to protect the public from this deadly infection. By raising awareness and promoting safe water practices we can prevent such tragedies like Aurangzeb’s in Karachi.