Probe ordered into two naegleria deaths in Karachi

KARACHI: The death of two men from the same neighbourhood of Gulistan-i-Jauhar on account of ‘brain-eating’ amoeba, or Naegleria fowleri, has kept the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) on its toes. The KWSB is the primary body to ensure that water supplied in the city is properly chlorinated, the only measure that can keep the deadly disease at bay, it emerged on Saturday. Officials in the provincial health department said the death of a 39-year-old and another 22-year-old in the space of two weeks from Gulistan-i-Jauhar sent shock waves in the offices meant to plan and supervise healthcare facilities in the city. The fact that none of the two victims had any record of swimming — another act that gives good reason for the infliction of the disease that enters in a person’s body through nasal cavity and only affects the brain — the only large reason remains is improper chlorination of the tap water. “Naegleria could not affect a person if one uses properly chlorinated water. But, if chlorine levels are insufficient than the prescribed quantity in water, one has any reason to believe that it could lead to a disaster caused by the deadly disease,” said a senior official in the Sindh health department. He said the KWSB authorities had been asked to investigate the two cases and submit a report about the real cause or causes behind them. “The two cases have been emerged from a neighbourhood which is a planned and affluent area and where it is hard to comprehend that the water supply contained improper chlorine levels. If the issue of chlorination proves true that should sound alarm bell for the entire city,” another official said. Officials said a committee comprising the KWSB, Karachi Metropolitan Cor­poration and the provincial health department was busy in collecting water samples from various parts of the city, the results of which were being documented. However, the committee has been tasked to keep the particular neighbourhood of Gulistan-i-Jauhar on priority to protect the thickly populated area from witnessing another human loss. Last year, the disease claimed three lives — a 14-year-old boy from Korangi, a 20-year-old man from New Karachi’s Godhra Colony and a 40-year-old man from Lines Area. The deadly disease had surfaced in the city in 2012 when it claimed 10 lives. Officials said they had formed a sub-committee as well with the mandate to survey swimming pools and water parks to check they were properly chlorinated. PAM (primary amoebic meningoencephalitis) is defined in medical literature as a rare, but typically fatal infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba found in rivers, lakes, springs, drinking water networks and poorly chlorinated swimming pools. Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2014