KARACHI, July 13: Aga Khan University (AKU) laboratories have identified and confirmed thirty-nine cases of cholera in Rehri Goth in the suburbs of Karachi.

Cholera outbreak linked to seasonal episodes of gastro-enteritis, registered every year in the area during summer, indicates that other than contaminated water (the main source of infection) there may be some other environmental factors behind the epidemic.

Cholera is much more dangerous than and different from simple viral gastro-enteritis and those suffering from it must be hospitalised immediately. If not tackled efficiently and promptly it causes death within 12 to 24 hours.

The flow of patients in Rehri Goth during the last few days has reduced mainly due to the initiative undertaken by the Town Health Officer of Bin Qasim and Aga Khan University health workers who actively engaged the UC Nazims and councillors in the public awareness campaign against the disease.

Residents of the area said that because of last year’s experience to tackle the outbreak of gastro enteritis in the area it was found to be less difficult to control the situation this time.

The urban health programme managers, in close coordination with AKU, the Rehri Goth Health and Development Organisation (CHMA), the union council and the Rural Health Centre Rehri, have established medical camps in the area. Intensive emergency care is being provided round the clock to the referred patients.

An ambulance service has also been provided by the Sindh health department for transportation of the referred cases. A mass awareness crash programme has also been initiated.

A team of the water board has already visited the area and collected water samples to identify the cause of the outbreak.—APP