10 die of gastroenteritis in relief camps

KARACHI: At least 10 children were killed due to breakout of gastroenteritis disease on Monday in Karachi and North Waziristan, said sources on Monday. According to sources, a 4-year child died of gastro epidemic in the relief camp located at Bhens Colony and another child was killed in the relief camp of Gulshan-e Maymar. Separately, gastroenteritis killed eight people in Asad Khel Moseeqi area of North Waziristan. Several affected children have been shifted to nearby hospitals where they are being provided medical treatment. The children said to be suffered from gastro epidemic by drinking contaminated water in relief camps. The waterborne gastroenteritis killed several dozen people last week as more cases have also been reported elsewhere across the flood-plagued country. Over two weeks of heavy rains and floods have so far killed over 1,600 people, displaced 20 million people and destroyed some 700,000 homes in Pakistan which is experiencing worst floods in its history. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a case of fatal cholera disease over the weekend in Pakistan. It has estimated that some 36,000 people have been affected by breakout of cholera in the country, which is entangled with waterborne diseases while it is still facing the ravaging floods and monsoon rains. The Pakistani health ministry has sent a red alert to the WHO for starting an emergency treatment against the diseases which are spreading faster along the flowing polluted water which is mixing tap and well water with sewerage and other contaminations. In badly-affected Nowshera and Charsadda areas of the province, three million people are challenged by typhoid, hepatitis A and B, respiratory tract infection, scabies, cholera and other diseases