KARACHI: Sweltering weather conditions, coupled with poor meat preservation and consumption practices, have made hundreds of people ill in recent days, many of whom reported to hospitals for emergency treatment, it emerged on Saturday.

Speaking to Dawn, senior doctors associated with two major public-sector hospitals in the city said that an unusually high number of gastroenteritis patients had reported for emergency care over the past four days, with their medical history clearly indicating the consumption of either spoiled meat or excessive quantities of meat.

“The Eidul Azha period is usually followed by a surge in gastroenteritis cases that have a direct connection with meat, which is available in abundance during these days,” said Dr Imran Sarwar Sheikh, additional medical superintendent and head of the emergency department at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK).

According to him, over 50 gastroenteritis cases were reported on the first day; their number rose to more than 130 and more than 100 on the second and third days, respectively. Till Saturday afternoon, 25 patients with the same illness had received treatment at the hospital.

CHK and JPMC report sharp increase in emergency patients

Most patients were aged between 35 and 55 and reported symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and discomfort. There were some with fever, too.

“One key reason for illness is improper preservation of meat, which should be collected and picked up as soon as the animal slaughtering process is complete. The pieces of meat should be thoroughly washed, drained, and packed in clean plastic bags and stored in the refrigerator.”

Also, he emphasised, people must avoid overeating and try to add salad, vegetables, yoghurt or lassi to their diet.

Sharing similar concerns, Dr Irfan Siddiqui, head of the emergency department at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), said that hot weather and power outages had added to people’s troubles.

“Their medical histories clearly show that they either overate or consumed spoiled meat. Apparently, hot weather and power outages added to people’s troubles as they couldn’t preserve their meat properly.”

The JPMC, he said, saw a gradual increase in gastroenteritis patients from around 30, 40 and 45 cases on the first, second and third days, respectively, to 65 on the fourth day (Saturday).

“That’s how their numbers increased gradually along with the severity of the disease.”

Recently, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has urged the public to exercise caution regarding their dietary habits and meat consumption to avoid medical emergencies.

In a statement, the PMA cautioned that the sudden shift to heavy, meat-dominated meals can put a severe strain on the digestive system. “Overindulging in rich, fried and heavily spiced meat dishes frequently leads to distressing health complications, including severe diarrhoea and gastroenteritis, acute vomiting and nausea, indigestion, hyperacidity and severe abdominal cramps,” it added.

“It can also lead to the aggravation of existing conditions in patients with hypertension, diabetes, high uric acid levels or heart disease,” the statement said.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2026