Epidemic: Six die, 60 hospitalised with gastroenteritis

Health officials initiate awareness drive in Sahiwal.

MULTAN: Six people passed away and 60 were hospitalised in the district hospital in Sahiwal due to gastroenteritis on Tuesday and Wednesday.

District Health officials have been directed to issue a red alert in the district. The disease has mostly affected elderly and children. Health officials said the disease had spread mostly due to negligence in assuring the quality of food and water consumed.

Out of the 60 patients at the hospital, doctors said 28 were in critical condition.

The district health department has been working on full capacity and several doctors have been asked to cut short their summer vacations. The district administration and health officials have also launched an awareness drive to raise awareness about the disease.

Officials have also raided beverage carts and stands suspected of selling contaminated beverages. Doctors told The Express Tribune that the number of patients could be higher as many of them could have visited private hospitals.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2014.