DERA GHAZI KHAN, June 3: Confusion prevails over the number of deaths caused by gastroenteritis here with health authorities insisting on just one mortality at the DHQ hospital while a nazim claims nine deaths in his union council alone.

The epidemic had broken out last week in northern and southern parts of the city, affecting a large number of people, including children and women.

The influx of patients at the DHQ hospital was so high that students of the nursing school had to be summoned by the authorities.

The head of official medical store at the DHQ hospital told Dawn that there was a shortage required injections to fight the epidemic.

According to the EDO (health), the patient who died on Friday was Jindan Mai (80), who was brought to the hospital in critical condition the same morning. He was not ready to believe deaths reported from private clinics.

The nazim of union council 4, Habib Leghari, said that he had submitted names of nine people to the district coordination officer who died from gastro last week. DCO Khusro Pervaiz was however not available for comments.

EDO Faiz Ali Jaskani said over 400 patients had been brought to the DHQ last week.

MPA Mohsin Leghari said the chief minister had released one million rupees as relief fund for the treatment of gastro patients at the DHQ hospital.