A 17-year-old resident of North Karachi, identified as Syed Shah Ali Qadri, has passed away after contracting Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba.

His death marks the fourth fatality in Karachi due to the infection in 2025.

According to health officials, the teenager was admitted to Aga Khan University Hospital, where medical tests confirmed the presence of the deadly parasite.

What has alarmed experts is the absence of any history of swimming or bathing in pools, indicating that the infection may have been caused by contaminated domestic water sources.

Naegleria fowleri is a rare but highly fatal infection that enters the body through the nose, typically from exposure to warm or untreated water, and attacks the brain.

Health authorities have once again urged Karachi residents to regularly clean water tanks, ensure proper chlorination, and boil water before use, particularly for nasal cleansing or ablution.