Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq has said that Punjab Health Department is fully alert regarding prevention of naegleria disease. He said that six samples of water from the house of Azhar Abbas, resident of Walton Cantt. who died due to this disease in Service Hospital, office, mosque and other places had been sent to the Institute of Public Health for analysis but naegleria was not proved from these water samples. He said that a committee has been constituted headed by EDO Health Lahore which is monitoring surveillance and other steps regarding naegleria disease.
Kh. Salman Rafiq said that various meetings have been held in Punjab Health Department during last few days to review the situation after reporting of the case of naegleria disease in Services Hospital. Secretary Health Punjab, Director General Health, senior officers of Walton Cantonment Board, Dean IPH, MD WASA, EDO Health Lahore and officers of other concerned departments attended the meetings. Kh. Salman Rafiq said that Health Department’s team also conducted surveillance of the area where the said patient was residing. He said that WASA as well as Walton Cantonment Board and Auqaf Department have been asked for chlorination of their water supply, water ponds and water tanks of mosques so that ameba of naegleria could not breed. According to medical experts, naegleria is nourished in swimming pools, ponds and open water tanks which is generally found in hot weather. The ameba causes manengitis in brain through nose.
The Advisor said that according to public health experts, prevention from naegleria is possible through chlorination of water and using boiled water. EDO Health Lahore Dr. Zulfiqar Ali said that naegleria disease is also found in America and Australia, however, it is very rare disease in the world and only 150 cases of this disease have been reported in America during last 40 years. Dr. Zulfiqar told that this disease is diagnosed at a time when it is fully spread in the brain of the patient. He said that high grade fever, vomiting and stiffness in neck are the common symptoms of this disease. He said that this is not an epidemic disease and the ameba of naegleria reaches to brain with water only through nose. He said that generally ameba is not found in underground water but it is found in open ponds and water tanks. Therefore, cleanliness and chlorination of water tanks and ponds is the important source of protection from this disease.