Rawalpindi:Water and food-borne diseases including diarrhoeal diseases, gastroenteritis, viral hepatitis (A&E), typhoid and paratyphoid fever along with other seasonal illnesses have started hitting population in this region of the country as the healthcare facilities have been receiving a significant number of patients with diarrhoea and related complications.
Experts say that the season for waterborne diseases has set in and the risk of transmission of endemic communicable diarrhoeal diseases looms large mainly because the existing hot weather conditions are conducive and much favorable for growth of microorganisms. It is time for both the individuals and the concerned government authorities to take preventive measures to avoid massive outbreaks of water-borne diseases that hit the population severely every year during monsoon.
Data collected by ‘The News’ has revealed that the incidences of water-borne diarrhoeal diseases are already on the rise in most parts of the country. According to health experts, it is so because in extreme hot weather conditions, drinking water reservoirs become scarce while the need for safe drinking water is increased. Availability of less water for consumption leads to poor personal hygiene and sanitation and as well effective disposal of waste becomes difficult. The cases of diarrhoeal diseases register a sharp increase during monsoon because hot and humid weather allows bacteria to grow faster and it makes the situation more alarming.
Experts say that it is time to make individuals aware of the fact that various human illnesses occur after contact with contaminated water and its consumption. Diarrhoeal diseases outbreaks occur after contamination of drinking-water with faecal matter. Drinking contaminated water or eating food washed in contaminated water can cause typhoid fever. It is also alarming that typhoid is not responding well to third generation cephalosporins because of multi-drug resistant strain. Salmonella Typhi that causes typhoid fever is endemic in Pakistan. Hepatitis A and E infections are also transmitted by faecal-oral route. The number of cases of hepatitis A and E is also on the rise that, according to health experts, is mainly due to consumption of unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation.
Experts say that proper hospital and laboratory based surveillance of these diseases and accurate data can enable the health authorities to determine the geographical distribution of water-borne diseases and take immediate measures. It is important that the number of cases of acute watery diarrhoea is on a sharp increase in Rawalpindi and its adjoining areas.
Experts say that the concerned government authorities should check water supply chain and distribution lines for any leakage or mixing with nearby running sewage on a regular basis to prevent expected outbreaks. Chlorination of water at source is a must which is ignored more often. Chlorination saves human lives by clearing water from the microorganisms. Experts say that chlorination is the only available preventive measure for safeguarding communities from waterborne diseases.
At the individual level, people should use boiled water for drinking to avoid waterborne diseases. The water must be placed on heat to boil till the pill rolling of bubbles is seen, then cooled at room temperature for consumption. Experts say that it is the best and safest water for drinking.
