Man dies of gastro, several hospitalised in Rahim Yar Khan

Last year, thousands of patients suffered from the disease across Punjab

RAHIM YAR KHAN: A man died of gastro while several others remain hospitalised due to dysentery and vomiting in Rahim Yar Khan on Tuesday. The gastro epidemic is spreading like wildfire as 17 patients have been admitted to various health facilities of the city. Those currently being treated also include infants.

Officials told Express News that 60-year old Abdul Rasheed was admitted to Sheikh Zayed Hospital after being infected by gastro in his resident neighbourhood of Palo Shah. However, Rasheed succumbed to the infection just hours after his admission despite all efforts to save him.

Gastro patients admitted at various health facilities included one-year-old Chandi Mai, three-year-old Jamiyat Bibi, 30-year-old Muhammad Asif, 11-year-old Rizwana Bibi, 65-year-old Uzma Bibi, 23-year-old Shabana Bibi, 25-year-old Muhammad Imran, 27-year-old Asif Ali, 19-year-old Bilal Ahmed, 23-year-old Ahmed Rafiq, 21-year-old Shahbaz Ali, 30-year-old Wasim Ahmed, 13-year-old Waqas Ahmed, 15-year-old Nizamuddin, 25-year-old Farooq Ahmed and 15-year-old Shah Nawaz.

The patients were undergoing treatment in various hospitals and health facilities in the city.

Earlier, the health department’s official record revealed that at least 193,117 acute diarrhea patients (viral gastroenteritis) were admitted to government-run hospitals in Faisalabad, Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, Chakwal, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Jhelum, Kasur, Khanewal, Layyah, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sheikhupra, Toba Tek Singh, Vehari, Bhakkar, Chiniot, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Lodran Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Nankana Sahib and other cities from January 1 to  May 11, 2017.

The highest number of patients suffering from the disease was reported in Lahore followed by DG Khan, Sheikhupura, Multan, Bahawalpur and Faisalabad.

Medical experts were of the view that the consumption of unhygienic food, drinks and contaminated water are major causes of such infectious diseases. They said the majority of the patients fall victim to such diseases due to extreme hot weather conditions and the use of contaminated water.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2018.