HYDERABAD, May 21: The director-general of Sindh health services, Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi, has said that four children have died of gastroenteritis.

He said that more than 2,423 patients were provided medical treatment from May 1 to 19 in government hospitals.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, Mr Jatoi identified the victims as six-year-old Zahir, resident of Tando Yousuf, eight-month-old Junaid, resident of Latifabad-11, and one-year-old Anus, resident of Latifabad-11.

He said that eight-year-old Naila from Tando Allahyar district died in the Liaquat University Hospital.

He said that the quality of water was being analysed regularly and it was fit for human consumption.

Dr Jatoi said that the cause of gastroenteritis during the summer was not only contaminated water due to old pipelines but also sizzling heat and consumption of unripe, overripe and rotten fruits and vegetables.

He said that gastroenteritis patients were provided medical treatment in the Liaquat University Hospital and 1,229 patients in other government hospitals.

He said that the directorate had taken a number of steps to deal with the prevailing situation.

Dr Jatoi said that on April 27, the directorate had issued instructions to all EDOs (health) to prepare themselves to combat the outbreak of gastroenteritis and diarrhoea.

He said that the instructions were also issued to EDOs on May 8, to declare emergency in all health institutions of the district.

He said that a control room was set up at the directorate on May 8, to monitor the situation.

He said that similar instructions were issued for stocking the life saving drugs as well as other measures.

POLIO: Dr Jatoi said that in 1997, there were 493 polio cases in Pakistan — 92 in Sindh, 227 (Punjab), 144 in (the NWFP) and 30 in Balochistan.

He said that in 2006, only three cases of polio had been registered, one each in Sindh, the NWFP and Balochistan and no case was reported in Punjab.