A New Gastroenteritis Outbreak Expected to Hit Karachi, Reports

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by Hamna Bano

23-03-2022
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On Sunday, after observing hundreds of people being brought to private and public hospitals in Karachi, health experts have warned the people of Karachi and Sindh to get ready for an expected gastroenteritis outbreak.

Health experts have called for an awareness campaign among masses in order to educate as to how to prevent food and water-borne diseases. It has been planned to prevent the number of expected deaths.

The experts spoke about the expected outbreak at the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that took place between the Liver Disease Society (PGLDS), a pharmaceutical firm and the Pak GI. This was done at the launch ceremony of PGLDS Research Awards that would be presented to the top 10 researchers for their services and research papers in gastroenterology in coming July at the annual conference of society.

The gastroenterologists urged people to take the needed measures like avoiding uncooked food from outside and drinking unclean water. It was requested to the pharmaceutical and government sector to donate funds for research purposes in the area of gastroenterological diseases like water-borne diseases and blood related viral infections like hepatitis.

 

While speaking at the MOU signing ceremony, senior gastroenterologist Professor Amanullah Abbasi who is affiliated with PGLDS said, “There is a serious outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in Karachi and other cities of Sindh and hundreds of patients, including children, are being brought to hospitals for treatment. Watery diarrhoea is a serious health issue which can take the life of a healthy person within hours if immediate medical treatment is not provided to the patient.”

He added that, "research conducted by Pakistani experts also helped the world understand Covid-19 as dozens of papers on signs and symptoms of the viral disease and its management were published in international journals."

Dr. Sajid Jamil who is another senior gastroenterologist questioned the relevant authorities (water and sewerage board) for their failed performance at providing clean drinking water to the masses. He urged and requested people to take precautionary measures to save themselves from water-borne diseases like cholera and diarrhea.