KARACHI, June 25: At least 20 children belonging to the families of fishermen in Bin Qasim Town have been declared as suffering from cholera by the Aga Khan University.

According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum on Wednesday, 155 patients of diarrhoea were reported from June 14 to 21, of which 20 were declared as suffering from Vibro Cholera Ogawa.

The PFF’s handout quoted Dr Naveed Sarwar of the AKU as saying that 68 of the patients were males and 87 females. One hundred and thirty-four of the patients were less than 15 years of age.

Expressing concern over the increasing cases of cholera, the press release criticized the health department for “failing to take appropriate steps”.

It added that cases of cholera had been detected for the first time last year. The patients were given proper treatment.

This year too, some 150 cases had been detected. “We have sent the water samples to the laboratories. The results are awaited,” said Dr Sarwar.

Nawaz Dablo of the PFF said the pipes were faulty and people got germ-infested water, hence the problem.