No gastroenteritis outbreak reported: NIH
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—So far no major gastroenteritis outbreak has been reported from any part of country during the current monsoon season, said an official of National Institute of Health (NIH).
He said the institute is continuously monitoring the situation regarding gastroenteritis in the country and regularly providing laboratory support to the districts from where water and stool samples are being received.
He said the results are immediately conveyed to the respective health authorities along with advice about preventive and curative measures for the containment of disease.
During current year, the NIH has processed 107 stool samples included nine from Islamabad and 98 from Rawalpindi received from various hospitals of these two cities. A total of 43 cases out of 98 from Rawalpindi have been found positive for cholera while only three out of nine were positive from Islamabad, he said.
Referring to some statements appearing during last few days regarding gastroenteritis outbreaks an official clarified that there is no epidemic of cholera in any part of the country.
He added some sporadic cases have been reported without any clustering. He added to contain such cases the provincial health departments have been asked to regularly monitor the drinking water quality and chlorinate the water sources.
He said the community should clean and check any leakage of underground, overhead water tanks and in sewerage system and get these immediately repaired.
He advised that the drinking water should always be boiled, hands should be washed before meal and after going to the toilet, while fruits and vegetables should be properly washed.
The quality of drinking water both chemical and bacteriological should be regularly monitored by a reliable laboratory while water sources and water purification plants should be effectively chlorinated.
All underground and overhead water tanks should be checked for leakage and cleaned regularly. Sewerage system in the area should be inspected for any break, which should be repaired immediately.