QUETTA: At least 10 people, including women and children, have died in Balochistan’s Zhob and Khuzdar districts due to an outbreak of cholera in the flood-affected areas over the past week, health officials said on Saturday.

World Health Organisa­tion (WHO) officials raised the alarm, saying that there was an epidemic of acute watery diarrhea (AWD) in 16 districts of Balochistan.

More than 1,300 people have been infected, while seven have died in Zhob district over the last ten days, according to WHO.

Health officials said that number of cholera patients was increasing in Khuzdar district hospital, where people are arriving from several nearby villages.

According to Dr Saifur Re­­hman, more than 100 patie­n­­ts have been admitted to the hospital during last few days.

The situation is not much different in Zhob, where sev­en patients suffering from cholera have lost their lives, according to Zhob Dis­trict Hospital Medical Sup­erin­te­ndent Dr Noor-Ul-Haq.

Provincial Health Minis­ter Syed Ehsan Shah has taken notice of the outbreak and directed health officials to take all possible steps to provide treatment facilities to patients.

According to Mr Shah, special medical teams are being sent to affected areas to bring the cholera outbreak under control.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...