May 30, 2006	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 2, 1427

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FAISALABAD, May 29: The health department has failed to control effectively the gastroenteritis in Ghulam Muhammadabad and its adjoining localities as the number of affected people has reached 16,687.

Sources reveal that the actual number of affected people has crossed the 25,000 figure, a record in the history of the province.

At least 15 people have so far lost their lives owing to gastroenteritis, but government departments on Monday could confirm the death toll to only nine.

Most of casualties were reported from private hospitals and clinics during the first week of the outbreak of disease as government medical centres were unable to provide medical care to the people.

On Monday, over 500 fresh victims of the disease visited the Ghulam Muhammadabad General Hospital, the emergency centre set up in a school, Allied Hospital Faisalabad and private hospitals. A majority of patients were vomiting due to the consumption of contaminated water still being supplied through Wasa’s water pipelines.

Doctors at the General Hospital and other state-run medical centres confirmed that the flow of patients was alarming as hundreds of new patients visiting daily.

They said that health officials and the district administration should ensure the supply of clean drinking water to affected areas.

Except for a religious organisation, none of NGOs working for the community welfare have so far visited the affected areas.

GUJRANWALA: More than 100 people, including children, with gastroenteritis were admitted to the DHQ hospital and private clinics during the last 24 hours where an elderly man died.

Munir of Gulshan Colony died a few hours after admission.

It is learnt that the condition of several children was serious.

Meanwhile, the executive district officer (health) said steps were being taken to avoid spread of epidemics.