KARACHI, June 27: At least six people belonging to the Landhi Town have died of gastro-enteritis complications after consuming foodstuff or water unfit for human consumption, according to the Edhi Foundation, Town Health Officer of Landhi Town and Nazim of UC-2.
The Edhi Foundation’s Rizwan Edhi, Health Officer of Landhi Town, Dr Aslam Pervez, and Nazim of UC-2, Javed Azeem, told Dawn on Friday that up to 800 people were suffering from a severe form of diarrhoea for the last three days.
The problem was reportedly created due to the mixing of sewage with drinking water in conduits. Some of the residents even claimed that water being supplied to the area had gas smell, suggesting that gas and water lines might have crossed each other.
However, some residents of Muslimabad, Landhi Town, claimed that the outbreak was a consequence of wide consumption of Lassi of dubious quality. Still others said it was caused by wide use of low-priced pickles.
Mr Edhi told Dawn that 400 people were treated on Friday alone at an emergency camp, set up jointly by his volunteers and Town Health officials. However, he said, seven people were not able to recover from the resultant dehydration and electrolytic imbalance. He said most of the people were young.
According to him, the names of the children who succumbed to it were: Samina, daughter of Gul Mohammad; Ishaaia, child of Noor Khan; Zain Noor, son of Azad Khan; Gul Bano, daughter of Sultan; and Farhatullah, son of Liaquat Ali. The name of a victim could not be established.
In response to a question, Mr Edhi said many affected people were suffering from diarrhoea-like infection.
Dr Aslam Pervez said those died had suffered from gastro-enteritis complications. “Fever, motions and vomiting are the symptoms of GI complications. I think these people suffered from this complication, not just simple diarrhoea.”
He said the problem was identified rather belatedly. “You see, the infection initially was scattered. That is, isolated cases were reported from various neighbourhood. But today it dawned upon us, after so many people had died, that we have an outbreak at hand.”
Dr Pervez was of the opinion that local doctors, who were consulted by the patients, did not read the situation correctly. “So, they simply administered normal saline solutions, rather compounding the problem.”
In such complications, he said, ringer solution should be administered. An emergency camp had been established in the neighbourhood directly affected by the outbreak, said the doctor.
Answering a question, Dr Pervez said seven doctors belonging to the town health office and three others associated with the Edhi Foundation were working at the camp set up on Friday morning.
Javed Azeem claimed that the outbreak had been caused by the wide use of contaminated water. He was of the view that Landhi was a neglected area for the benefit of which the authorities were not ready to take worthwhile steps.
Mr Azeem claimed that senior officials charged with looking after the water and sewage mains were not responding to the frantic calls for help made by him and his associates.
The MS of Sindh Government Hospital, Korangi No 5 said 12 people suffering from stomach infections had been shifted to his wards from the affected area. More were on the way.