Man dies soon after taking medicine

The medicine was distributed by the Health Department under Filariasis Disease Eradication Programme which began in the district on April 23.

Local people said, Ahmed Ali, 45, fell sick and died within half an hour of intake of medicine distributed by Santana Paul, a health worker, as a part of the programme.

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The victim's family sources claimed that the health worker gave Ahmed Ali three DEC tablets, higher anti-biotic and one Albandezol tablet. He began to vomit immediately after taking medicine and died at his house, the sources claimed.

However, upazila health officer Dr Jashim Uddin Khan denied the claim, saying 'the victim died of diarrhoea'.

Sources in the civil surgeon (CS) office said, a seven-day Filariasis Disease Eradication Drive began on April 23 as the disease broke out in an epidemic form in the district. Many patents of Patuakhali district were found to be admitted at two Filariasis hospitals in Dhaka and Nilphamari.

Under the Filariasis Disease Eradication Programme, about 14 lakh people above two years of age got medicine in the entire district.

On contact, Patuakhali CS Dr Nurun Nahar Begum said, the patients may vomit and feel uneasy after taking the medicine. They should drink a lot of water, she said.