A team from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR) has started visiting different parts of Chattogram to investigate into the cause of a diarrhoea outbreak.

There has been an outbreak of diarrheoa in several upazilas of Chattogram for a week. Four upazilas -- Patiya, Boalkhali, Anwara and Chandanaish -- are the worst affected, reports our local correspondent citing sources in Chattogram Civil Surgeon's office.

Although the diarrhoea outbreak has not yet spread widely, the Chattogram Civil Surgeon's office has taken several steps in advance.

Apart from issuing a set of instructions to all upazila health officers, a three-member committee was also formed by the Civil Surgeon office to look into the matter.

The Civil Surgeon of Chattogram Dr Ilias Chowdhury also wrote to the director of IEDCR on May 5 requesting him to take initiative to inquire into the cause.

On May 5, a total of 263 diarrhoea patients were admitted in 14 upazila health complexes in Chattogram district, said sources in Chattogram Civil Surgeon Office.

Of those, 49 patients were admitted to Patiya upazila health complex, 29 to Anwara upazila health complex, 34 to Chandanaish upazila health complex and 39 patients were admitted to Boalkhali upazila health complex.

A 12-member IEDCR team has reached Chattogram last evening to investigate into the case of diarrhoea outbreak.

Contacted, Civil Surgeon Dr Ilias Chowdhury said the team from IEDCR has started its work since this morning.

The team would visit the affected upazilas and would go to the home of patients to collect the samples of water they use for drinking, he said.

They will also collect information about their lifestyle.

During the field visit, the team will also talk to the doctors, nurses and healthcare givers in upazila health complexes and would also observe the treatment procedure, he said.

The team will submit report to the director of IEDCR after completing their field work.

Dr Ilias, however, said that most of the diarrhoea patients admitted to the health complexes are getting cured in two to three days.