Experts sound cholera alarm

Following the recent devastating floods, health experts have warned of an imminent risk of a cholera outbreak in affected regions and urged residents to adopt immediate preventive measures.

Speaking on Monday, renowned gastroenterologist Dr Roohul Ameen stressed the urgent need for surveillance of waterborne diseases—particularly acute diarrhoea and cholera—and called for timely interventions, medical supplies, and community awareness to safeguard public health.

Cholera, a potentially fatal diarrhoeal infection caused by contaminated food or water, spreads rapidly in areas where water and sanitation systems are disrupted—conditions commonly seen after floods, earthquakes, or conflicts. With Pakistan's repeated experiences of floods and mass displacement, experts warn the country remains highly vulnerable.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) official noted that the risk of cholera multiplies when disaster-hit populations are forced into camps with limited access to clean water, adding that outbreaks not only claim lives but also strain already fragile health systems.