A TERRIFYING brain-eating amoeba has killed a man sparking fears the infection could have infected the water supply.
Health officials are desperately probing to find out how shopkeeper, Adnan Tariq, became infected by the killer bug in Pakistan.
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Tariq, 45, suffered a fever on Wednesday night and was admitted to a private hospital in Sindh on Thursday.
He was later transferred to intensive care where he was placed on a ventilator.
His condition deteriorated and he died the next day, sparking an urgent investigation.
He was found to have been infected with the killer waterborne amoeba – Naegleria Fowleri – which usually enters humans through the nose.
But officials are baffled as to how he contracted it.
“He had no history of swimming,” an official told Pakistan media.
The shopkeeper had not been in contact with any water that is known to be contaminated – or unusual places where the amoeba lurks, such as on farms.
Health officials are now investigating if he could have contracted the amoeba – and if it is potentially in the water pipes.
“In any case, it is important to look into the quality of water being supplied to the city through the piped system or tankers,” the health official added.
The preliminary report indicated that Tariq regularly purchased water from tankers and relied on water delivery from a public pump to his apartment.
The investigation suggests that he most likely contracted the virus while performing a religious ceremony at work.
The amoeba can be found in various freshwater environments, including rivers, hot springs, lakes, ponds, and poorly maintained pipes that deliver tap water and fill swimming pools.
The dangerous amoeba can enter the human body through the nose, leading to a deadly brain infection known as “naegleriasis”.
The emergence of the horrifying infection in Pakistan has only occurred since 2008.
Karachi has witnessed over 100 fatalities caused by the virus since its initial discovery, with at least 47 deaths occurring since 2017.
Dr Sohail told Dawn: “Since 2012, over 100 cases of naegleria have been reported in Karachi.
“Of them, only one patient survived for three months. In another case reported this year, the patient recovered well and is still alive.”
Another tragic death – suspected to be caused by the disease -occurred in July, after a 30-year-old man lost his life in Lahore after participating in swimming activities.
What is Naegleria Fowleri?
Naegleria fowleri is commonly referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba”. It’s a free-living microscopic amoeba that can cause devastating brain disease.
The parasite enters through the nose and into the brain where it turns into Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), which is a disease of the central nervous system.
The infection commonly occurs when people go swimming or diving in fresh, warm water places such as lakes or rivers.
In rare cases, infections can occur from swimming in poorly chlorinated pools and consuming contaminated tap water.
Symptoms of contracting Naegleria Fowleri present themselves in two stages.
In stage one a person may experience severe headache, fever and vomiting.
Stage two includes hallucinations a possible coma and altered mental status.
In order to avoid infection while in the area, health officials provided ways to avoid infection:
- Holding your nose shut, use nose clips
- Keep your head above water when taking part in water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater.
- Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high water temperature.
- Avoid digging in or stirring up the sediment while participating in water-related activities in shallow, warm freshwater areas.