Epidemic: Deadly jaundice claims five more lives

Three patients are being treated at the hospital

RAHIM YAR KHAN: At least five people died of jaundice after battling for their lives at Sheikh Zayed Hospital during the past 24 hours. The total number of casualties caused by the disease has exceeded 100, data collected by Express News revealed.

Doctors at the hospital said that eight patients, suffering from jaundice, were admitted to the health facility. However, the condition of five patients was critical and they later died. The victims were identified as 45-year-old Shamdo Parveen, 85-year-old Azeem Mai, 45-year-old Zainab Bibi, 50-year-old Waheed Butt, 70-year-old Muhammad Yaqub. Three patients who were being treated at the health facility were 42-year-old Jameela Bibi, 35-year-old Mehboob Ahmed, and 40-year-old Rab Nawaz.

Rahim Yar Khan has been plagued with jaundice and the disease has claimed the lives of several people this year. Most of the victims included adults and children. Despite the large number of casualties, the government has failed to come up with an effective plan to counter the situation.

Meanwhile, data collected from Shiekh Zayed Hospital stated that more than 100 people have lost their lives since the epidemic hit the district.

They added that fears of more casualties cannot be ruled out. Health experts said arsenic contamination of underground water, reusing syringes and a lack of filtration plants are the leading causes in the spread of this potentially fatal disease.

They added raising awareness and concerted preventive measures could help overcome the outbreak.

Earlier, when Express News collected and reviewed test reports from the district’s three rural health centres, two district headquarters hospitals and Shiekh Zayed Hospital, it transpired that 63% of the population had the disease.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2018.