Diarrhoeal concern
THERE has been an outbreak of diarrhoea marking a deviation of sorts from the known pattern of incidence. As many as 484 patients were hospitalised in the city on last Wednesday alone. Usually, this water-borne disease is mostly reported during sultry summer followed by monsoons. Its severe form is associated with receding flood waters. But this time, as late as in October-November we see it occurring in parts of Dhaka city and Pabna district.
Actually, a total of 1580 persons suffered from the disease in October and 1467 in September this year. The figures for last year in the same months were 618 and 668 persons respectively.
Although the incidence of the disease is localised; yet, since it is on the rise, this should be treated as an early warning for the health authorities to raise their level of preparedness. What causes an extra bit of concern is that certain areas of Badda near Basundhara residential area seems to have been afflicted. To add to the worry, laboratory investigations of samples collected by ICDDR,B found 60 percent of the patients suffering from cholera.
Experts have a new explanation. In addition to poor sanitation, drainage, garbage disposal and overall contamination of drinking water, there is now the change in climatic pattern which has exacerbated the negative impacts of the known factors. By all accounts, the present outbreak is a glaring instance of heightening aggravation of water contamination and food adulteration. Besides, dense concentration of people within a limited radius has wreaked havoc on whatever little amenities the city has leading to a sharp deterioration in the living conditions of city dwellers.
The special measures to be taken to contain the outbreak should include distribution of water purification tablets and WASA's supply of potable water through lorries to the affected areas. People's awareness level needs to be raised to comply with simple rules of health and hygiene and to ensure use of ORS and boiled water.
On the treatment side, it's time that the rush to the ICDDR,B which has played a remarkable role in managing diarrhoea and cholera patients be shared by other health complexes, in the private and public sectors.
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