Diarrhoea in 34 Sailkupa villages

At least 5,000 people have been attacked with the disease, Civil Surgeon Dr Nazrul Islam told newsmen after a visit to the affected areas yesterday.

The dead are Abdullah, 4, son of Arab Ali of Chardhalahar village and Piroz Ali, 85, of Chayadanga village in Dhalharchandra union. Both died on Monday.

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The disease has spread to 34 villages in five

Unions in the upazila, district health officials said.

The civil surgeon said the situation is under control now after nine medical team started working in the area. Three camps have been opened.

About 100 patients have been admitted to upazila health complexes at Sailkupa and Sripur (Magura).

He said there are families where all the members are attacked.

The disease spread quickly as those attacked remained at home instead of going to hospitals for treatment, the civil surgeon said.

But Abdul Bari, chairman of Dhalaharchandra Union Parishad in the affected area when contacted over phone said the disease is spreading and more people are being attacked.

He said besides medicine, food should be supplied in the area as relief as many people are starving because their bread-earning male members are attacked with the disease.

During a visit to Sailkupa health complex yesterday, some patients told this correspondent that they were not getting adequate medicine.

"A doctor gave me a slip to bring medicine from outside but pharmacists told me this medicine is available only at government

hospitals", Amirul Islam said.