July 01, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 26, 1429

TOBA TEK SINGH, June 30: Three children have so far died during the last 48 hours apparently because of gastroenteritis outbreak in Chak 188-GB near Rajana, some 25 kilometres away from here.

Dozens of children suffering from the disease are being treated at a camp set up by the health department in a school.

A source told Dawn that three children, who died in a private clinic of Kamalia, were two-year-old Surraya, three-year-old Kashif and four-year-old Iqbal.

The record of the camp shows that over 300 children were examined in the camp out of which 64 were found suffering from the disease. However, sources said the number of ailing children was up to 100.

EDO Health Dr Masood Iqbal Bukhari, who was present in the camp, told Dawn by telephone that no child had died in the camp and the disease was under control now. However, he said, it was yet to be diagnosed whether it was gastro or diarrhoea.

District Nazim Chaudry Abdul Sattar said a former PML-N MPA from Rajana, Sardar Masood Gadhi, who is brother of PML-N MPA Sardar Ayub Gadhi, had informed the health authorities about the spread of this disease on which he (nazim) directed the health department to send all paediatricians of DHQ and THQ hospitals of the district to the village camp.

Later, the distric nazim, DCO Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf and PML-N MNA Mian Junaid Anwaar also visited the camp.

Three ailing children have been shifted to DHQ Hospital while two to Kamalia THQ Hospital.

A source said that contaminated water the villagers were using for drinking and other purposes was the main cause behind the outbreak.

Meanwhile, five patients with identical symptoms were also found in neighbouring Chak 187-GB and a health department team has been dispatched there.