Brain-eating Amoeba Claims 10 Lives in Karachi

Official from World Health Organization said that a brain-eating amoeba has killed at least 10 people in Pakistan's most populous city since May. Naegleria fowleri, which has a fatality rate of more than 98%, is transmitted when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. It cannot be passed from person to person. The 10 confirmed cases have all occurred in the southern port city of Karachi. It is unclear if all cases have been reported, as residents may not be familiar with the disease and Pakistan's hospitals are severely overstretched. The amoeba travels from the nasal membranes to the brain. Symptoms are initially mild, including a headache, stiff neck, fever and stomach pain. Death usually occurs five to seven days after infection. Authorities were planning a campaign to raise awareness among health workers and the public. Most health centers had already been alerted.  ubAlert