Diarrhoea spreads in Mymensingh
One killed, over 600 attacked in five days`
Diarrhoea-affected children being treated at SKS hospital in Mymensingh town yesterday. Photo: STAR
Diarrhoea has spread to 12 upazilas in Mymensingh district, claiming one life and affecting over 600 people in last six days. At least 274 people were attacked with the intestinal disease in 48 hours till yesterday noon. Twenty-four patients were admitted to Surja Kanta Hospital (SKH), a ward of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), yesterday, official sources said. The rush of diarrhoea patients at SKH is high. On an average, 40 patients are admitted to the hospital daily and this is continuing for last five days, the officials. Aman Ali, 60, of Narilla village in Dhanbari upazila in Tangail district died of disrrhoea at MMCH on October 16. Doctors said Aman Ali was admitted for treatment of diarrhoea but he was also a MI (Myocardial Infarction) patient and he died from heart disease. Some patients at SKH claimed that they were not getting IV Fluid (Intravenous Fluid) due to its short supply. On contact, Dr. Md. Abdul Kader, In-Charge of SKH, told this correspondent that there is no crisis of Oral Saline and other medicines for diarrhoea patients. The SKH receives 100 to 200 bags of IV fluids a day, which is not sufficient to tackle the rush of patients, a source at the hospital said. While visiting the SKH, Shariful Alam Khan, a student from Gouripur, said he had to buy three bags of IV fluid and an injection at a cost of Tk 320 for treatment of diarrhoea. According to sources at the control room at Civil Surgeon's office, 611 people were affected with diarrhoea in the district in last seven days. The figure was 3984 for the month. The worst affected upazilas are Nandail, Phulbaria, Haluaghat and Muktagacha, the sources added. Mymensingh Civil Surgeon Dr. SM Shamsul Alam said all measures were taken to check spread of the disease. Fifty-four medical teams supported by Special Medical Teams are working in affected areas round the clock, he said. Publicity is being made through leaf-lets, posters and loud speakers in affected areas informing people about preventive measures and urging them to contact medical teams in case of outbreak of diarrhoea, the civil surgeon said. He said the disease broke out due to use of rainwater and lack of sanitation facilities.
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