No case of Naegleria infection ever reported from Islamabad, Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: Infection of the brain caused by Naegleria fowleri has so far claimed at least three lives in Karachi this season however, it is not being considered as a serious threat for population in this region of the country and none of the authorities has worked for prevention of the infection in the region.

Of the three species of Naegleria, the Naegleria fowleri causes a rare but severe and generally fatal infection of the brain in humans. Not a single case of the infection caused by Naegleria which is a microscopic amoeba has ever been reported from the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

According to many health experts, the amoebic infection that has emerged as relatively a newer health threat in Pakistan is not highly prevalent but reporting of its recent cases once again in Karachi has necessitated the need of specific attention of the concerned authorities to the matter.

No case of Naegleria infection has ever been reported in this region of the country but still it is need of the time to make public aware of various aspects of the fatal infection, said Additional District Health Officer at Islamabad Capital Territory Health Department Dr. Muhammad Najeeb Durrani while talking to ‘The News’ on Saturday.

He said the best remedy to prevent Naegleria infection is chlorination of water. All water reservoirs including swimming pools must be chlorinated properly, he said.It is important that so far, there is no specific treatment available for Naegleria fowleri infection nor any vaccine is available to prevent it. It is believed that the only way to avoid the deadly infection is preventive measures because over 95 per cent of the confirmed cases of the infection have to face death despite treatment.

Naegleria fowleri that infects people by entering the body through nose is also called as ‘brain-eating amoeba’, named after the most common complication produced by this infection, primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which is usually a fatal complication. This condition directly involves the spread of infection to the brain substance itself causing high mortality rate, said Dr. Durrani.

Experts say that the presentations of infection after the entry of amoeba into body through nasal cavity can range from changes in taste and smell, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, and stiff neck. In severe cases when disease progresses, confusion, hallucinations, lack of attention, and coordination in body movements can easily be manifested ultimately leading to seizures and or fits and death within 14 days of the infection.

It is important that the case fatality rate of the infection is estimated at 98 per cent and the symptoms of the infection start about five days (range is from one to seven days) after exposure.

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba and typically found in warm freshwater such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and hot springs. It is also found in soil especially near the warm water discharges of industrial plants, and non-chlorinated or poorly chlorinated swimming pools.

Experts say that it is rare for Naegleria fowleri to appear in inadequately treated samples of home-based tap water that is not treated enough to be entirely potable, though this is not the usual method of contracting the illness unless the water is very deeply inhaled, usually deliberately.

Dr. Durrani said the only way to avoid Naegleria infection is avoiding contact with contaminated sources and this is only possible if access to safe and chlorinated water sources be ensured particularly while swimming.