A 17-year-old from North Karachi, Syed Shah Ali Qadri, has tragically passed away after contracting Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba. His death marks the fourth fatality in Karachi related to the infection in 2025.
The teenager, who was admitted to Aga Khan University Hospital, was confirmed to be infected with the deadly amoeba through medical tests. What has raised concerns among experts is that Syed Shah Ali had no prior history of swimming or using swimming pools, suggesting that the infection may have been contracted through contaminated domestic water sources.
Naegleria fowleri is an uncommon but deadly infection that typically enters the body through the nose, usually from exposure to untreated or warm water. It then attacks the brain, often leading to death within days.
Health officials are urging the public to take necessary precautions, including regular cleaning and proper chlorination of water tanks, and to always boil water before using it for nasal cleansing or ablution, as a preventive measure against the potentially fatal infection.
