Gastroenteritis claims 42 lives in Punjab so far

At least 42 people have so far died of gastro-enteritis in Southern Punjab while 3,823 people mostly minor, children and women affected in last 16 days. Health authorities failed to combat the epidemic. Now, it outbreak even in Azad Kashmir, Balochistan province. Of them, 56 are stated to be in critical condition.
Another four patients have died including two in Multan, one in Lodhran and one in D G Khan raising the death toll to 42.
123 more patients mostly minor and children were taken to hospitals in southern Punjab till Saturday morning. "At least 27 patients died in Multan, two in Dera Ghazi Khan, three in Jehanian and remaining in Rahim Yar Khan while more than 3,823 were affected of gastro-enteritis during last 16 days. We are trying to combat the disease by taking preventive measures," Professor Dr Shabbir Nasir Principal of Nishtar Medical College told this correspondent.
At least 728 people were admitted in Nishtar Hospital emergency ward in 16 days who were suffering from Gastro-enteritis. 56 of them are in precarious condition. Now total 3,823 affectees have been registered in Shaikh Zaid Hospital Rahim Yar Khan, DHQ Hospital D G Khan, Children complex and Nishtar Hospital Multan. Of them 3,317 relieved after their recovery while 56 are in critical condition in Multan and Rahim Yar Khan. However, the Health authorities took no preventive measure.
"We have organised 458 teams to visit the affected areas to combat gastro-enteritis because it turned into epidemic due to use of unhygienic food, contaminated water, cut-fruits, ice balls, and musty fruits. We have established relief camps in all affected areas while in Multan city camps were established at Mumtazabad, Gulgasht, Kabootar Mandi, Daulat Gate, Delhi gate, Haram gate, Wahdat Colony, and Suraj Miani while samples of water were taken from 40 areas to chemical examination, ORS (Nimkol) and bleaching are being distributed among the residents of Multan city," Dr Abdul Hameed Chughtai EDO (Health) Multan told this correspondent.
DCO Multan has imposed ban under section 144 Cr.PC on the sale of ice balls, unhygienic cold drinks, ice creams, Gol-Gappas, Dahi-Bhallay etc, cut-fruits and launched an operation against such items. DCO also ordered to seal such ice factories, which were using contaminated water.