A significant diarrhoea outbreak has hit the Chaman area of the Balochistan province, with approximately 1,400 cases reported. Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation amid fears that it could be cholera.
The diarrhea affected people, most of them children, have been shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital Chaman for medical treatment.
An emergency has been declared at the hospital to provide medical treatment to the patients. Increasing reports of diarrhea patients prompted the Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Justice Hashim Khan Kakar to take notice of the cases.
The top judge of the province has directed health officials to ensure timely medical treatment for patients suffering from diarrhea and asked them to submit a report in this regard.
Balochistan Health Services Director General Dr Amin Khan Mandokhail visited the affected area to review medical facilities at Civil Hospital, PPHI, and the Merck Center.
During his visit, Dr Mandokhail emphasised that no confirmed cases of cholera have been detected so far. Samples from the suspected cases have been sent to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad and Karachi for further testing.
The Balochistan government had ordered Dr Mandokhail to visit Chaman and assess the situation before submitting a comprehensive report to the Balochistan High Court Chief Justice. "I am going to submit this report to the honorable BHC chief justice," Mandokhail confirmed.
“Rapid testing kits raised an early alarm, but these cannot definitively confirm cholera,” he stated. To ensure the accuracy of the diagnosis, six samples have also been sent to BMC Quetta's lab for crosschecking. Three suspected cases of cholera have been sent to Karachi for final analysis.
Dr Mandokhail added that while the situation within Chaman city is concerning, areas outside the city remain unaffected, with no cases reported. Final reports on the samples are expected within three days, which will help determine whether the outbreak is indeed cholera.
Health experts in Chaman declared water as the main reason behind the increasing number of diarrhea cases in the area. Most of the patients are stated to be women and children. An emergency was also declared in the district by the Balochistan Health Department in the aftermath of the outbreak. However, there were still no confirmed reports of cholera outbreak in the area as earlier reports suggested.
If the outbreak is indeed cholera, health authorities may well have their work cut out.
Cholera is an acute, potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It primarily spreads through contaminated water or food, particularly in areas with inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices. The disease is characterised by severe diarrhea and dehydration, which can lead to rapid deterioration if not treated promptly.
The primary symptoms of cholera include profuse, watery diarrhea often described as "rice-water stools" due to its pale, cloudy appearance. This diarrhea is typically accompanied by vomiting and cramping. The loss of fluids and electrolytes can be so severe that it leads to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and shock, which, if untreated, can be fatal within hours.
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