The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Diarrhoea that broke out in an alarming proportion in Chapainawabganj and Kurigram districts claimed seven lives and affected around 2,000 people in last one week till Friday. Sources said in Chapainawabganj, five people died and 1500 were affected by the waterborne disease during the period. Diarrhoea that broke out in Sadar and Bholahat upazilas one month back has been spreading in other parts of the district. Sixty-four medical teams of Health Department are working there at present. Hospital sources said the doctors and nurses are facing problems to tackle the situation as a number of new diarrhoea-affected people are coming to the hospitals for treatment everyday.

While contacted the patients have expressed satisfaction over the hospital service as the authorities are supplying sufficient medicine to them.

Acting Civil Surgeon Dr Rabiul Islam said people of the district usually drink pond or river water due to arsenic in the tubewell water.

"But the pond and river water has become more contaminated due to the recent flood and that might be the reason behind the outbreak of the waterborne disease," he added.

In Kurigram, two people died and 500 affected by diarrhoea in the district, the sources said. The deceased were identified as Laily Begum, 35, of Digrir Char in Roumari upazila and Khadiza Begum, 18, of Pashchim Sukhati village in Nageshwar upazila.

Of the affected people, 71 admitted to different hospitals of the district, civil surgeon office sources said.

Besides, pneumonia has claimed life of one in the district during the period, the sources added.