At least 715 people had died and a total of 37,715 had been affected with diarrhoea around the country since the beginning of the new year. Health and Family Welfare Minister Choudhury Kamal Ibne Yousuf disclosed at the Jatlya Sangsad yesterday.

Responding to a call attention notice on a matter of public importance by Awaml League member Mohiuddin of Pirojpur, the Health Minister noted that 338 unions of 30 thanas of the six districts under the newly-formed Barisal district were the most affected.

This year the diarrhoea situation suddenly started early in January, as it normally begins around April and continues upto the rainy season, and it took an acute form and tnl-tiklly the government was taken unawares." he added.

However, the Minister assured the House that all re-

sources were mobilised and that the situation was now under control. A total of 217 doctors, including those from the army, were currently working in the area.

He said that the. situation was gradually improving and that during the last 24 hours 374 people were affected and only two died, which he termed "not very many" in a region where more than a crore people live.

He refuted charges that there was a shortage of medicine in the affected areas saying that he personally visited the region recently to ensure that adequate steps were being taken. He noted that the AI. member Mohiuddin Ahmed from Bakerganj was also present during the visit

The Health Minister went on to identify the salinity of the water in the region and poor sanitary conditions as the primary reasons for the outbreak of diarrhoea.