Diarrhoea attacked more than 43,000 people, five dead in B'desh

Dhaka, Aug 12 (UNI) At least five people died due to an outbreak of diarrhoea in the flood-hit Bangladesh, where 43000 people have been affected by the water-borne disease.

However, officials claimed the disease was yet to assume epidemic proportion and described the spread as ''sporadic'' with the situation ''under control''.

The officials said thousands are also suffering from skin disease and respiratory problem in the aftermath of devastating floods in the country.

Some 2,991 medical teams are treating the patients in the flood-affected areas round-the-clock.

The diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases have been spreading due to lack of clean drinking water.

Meanwhile, 28 fresh deaths have been reported in various flood-related the last 24 hours, pushing the toll to 346 till this morning.

Prof Moazzem Hossain, Director (Disease Control) of the Health Directorate confirmed five people have died due to diarrhoea complicated by lung disease.

Besides, he said some 6,711 people have been suffering from Respiratory Tract Infections.

Official statistics say a total of 3,916 people have been admitted to government hospitals in the last 24 hours ending last night.

Prof Moazzem said diarrhoea units were opened in all government hospitals in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

He said the situation is not epidemic and is fully under control. ''It is not in epidemic form, rather sporadic,'' he said.

Doctors said comparatively adults are being affected more.

They said waterborne diseases, particularly diarrhoea, break out during every flood in Bangladesh.

They suggested forming more medical teams, comprising Health Assistants and Family Welfare Assistants, by the government to tackle such flood-related health hazards.

UNI