Diarrhoea and skin diseases have started spreading in flood hit areas of Sirajganj district

At least 3,481 were infected with waterborne diseases in seven upazilas out of nine in Sirajganj district during the last three weeks from August 19.

Flood-hit people have been suffering from diarrhoea due to lack of pure drinking water, locals calleged.

At least 60 medical teams are working in the flood affected areas for giving treatment to the victims. They are also generating awareness to prevent flood related waterborne diseases, said Dr. Md. Shamsudin, Sirajganj Civil Suigeon.

The affected upazilas are Sirajganj Sadar, Kazipur, Shahzadpur, Belkuchi, Chowhali, Ullahpara and Tarash.

CS office sources said, with the recession of flood water, diarrhoea, skin diseases, eye infection and RTI diseases were spreading in the affected areas.

A total of 1332 people are now suffering from diarrhoea, 669 from skin diseases, 348 from eye infection, 688 with RTI, said Humayun Kabir, an official at CS office.

Kazipur is the worst hit upazila where at least 1300 people were infected with waterborne diseases during the period, he said.

"As 12 unions of the upazila went under floodwater, the waterborne diseases spread here" Dr. Sushanta Kumar, Kazipur upazila health and family planning officer, told this correspondent.

Around 15 to 20 patients are being admitted to the upazila health complex the while others are given treatment by the medical teams in the affected areas, he said.

While visiting Kazipur upazila health complex yesterday, this correspondent found more than 38 patients taking treatment for flood related diseases. Most were admitted with diarrhoea, skin diseases and eye infection, hospital sources said.