Three die of dirrhoea,345 hospitalised in Meherpur

As many as 345 diarrhoea patients have been admitted to Meherpur General Hospital in last three days, as diarrhoea situation has taken an alarming turn in Meherpur district.

Diarrhoea patients Aroz Ali, 38, of Raipur, Russel Hossain, 26, of Gawharpur in Sadar upazila, and Pinki Khatun, 20, of Berpara area of Meherpur town died at the hospital on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, hospital source said.

Ninety-five patients got admission on Saturday, 105 on Sunday and 145 other yesterday, officials said, adding that around 2,000 people attacked with the disease received treatment there in 20 days since April 28. 

Of the 100 beds of the hospital, only 10 are meant for the diarrhoea patients, and so, the authorities are struggling to cope with the worsening diarrhoea situation.

The influx of patients gives a picture different from the one that usually happens during the onset of monsoon, said Dr Alok Kumar Das, resident medical officer of the hospital. 

Doctors suspect that drinking of contaminated water and taking of chemical-mixed seasonal fruits along with the rise in temperature may be the reason behind the sudden outbreak of the disease.

“Two medical teams, each consisting four members, are working to find out the causes,” said Dr Azizur Rahman, civil surgeon of Meherpur. 

Another team from ICDDR,B (The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh) led by its Principal Scientific Officer Dr Narayan Chandra Das is also working at the hospital to detect the cause behind the outbreak.   

Municipality Mayor Mutasim Billah Motu said they have collected water samples from diarrhoea affected areas for laboratory test and started distributing oral saline and water purifying tablets to control the situation.

Meanwhile, shortage of medicines affects treatment at the hospital.