KARACHI, Aug 18: In order to prevent waterborne diseases, people have been advised to ensure consumption of only boiled and alum-treated water in case home-based filter plant is not available.

Dr Seemi Jamali of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre said that the outbreak of cholera and other waterborne diseases was also feared in the city following the torrential rains.

It is extremely important for citizens to take necessary measures to treat the water being supplied to them and also avoid consuming un-hygienically prepared or stale food as well as over ripe fruits, she added.

Dr Mobina Agboatwala, Paediatrics Department, Civil Hospital Karachi drew the attention towards flies and mosquitoes enhancing public vulnerability to malaria and typhoid besides several other diseases.

She said it was not only the inhabitants of low-lying areas, who might be more at risk this time but all the Karachiites, with almost no distinction, were facing the situation linked to poor hygiene and filth strewn around.

Dr Naseem Salahuddin expressing her serious reservations over the fumigation campaigns said that such exercises were proving futile as filthy water was gushing out from clogged sewers inundating street, lanes and continued to remain strong breeding spots for flies and mosquitoes.—APP