Outbreak: Diarrhoea kills six, affects several villages

Deadly disease kills four of a family; at least 16 others admitted to hospital.

ABBOTABAD:

An outbreak of diarrhoea in the Sherwan area of Abbottabad district has killed six people including a woman, while several others have been admitted to Ayub Medical Complex, District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Abbottabad and various other hospitals, doctors said.

The deceased include four members of a family from Shaheedabad village and have been identified as Ameer Muhammad, Muhammad Azam, Wali Muhammad, Ali Zaman, Muhammad Sarwar and Karim Jan. So far, 16 people from Thora Village have been admitted to DHQ Hospital.

The affected villages include Shaheedabad, Thora, Patyal and their adjoining areas.

The residents of these villages have complained that the health department, despite being aware of the seriousness of the issue, has not taken any preventive measures. The department has not set up any treatment camp in the affected villages, while no medical teams have been sent to the affected villages, they said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2011.