PMA Fears Outbreak Of Water-Borne Diseases In Karachi

KARACHI- As the monsoon season has arrived, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has urged Karachi’s public to protect themselves from diseases that spread due to contaminated water. The association requested everyone to use boiled or mineral water, to avoid water borne diseases.

Secretary General, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA-Centre), Dr. SM.Qaisar Sajjad, stated that, water borne diseases spread by drinking contaminated water. According to reports, about 3 million people of Pakistan suffer from waterborne disease like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A and hepatitis E. Approximately, 250,000 children below the age of 5 years, die every year owing to waterborne diseases.

He also mentioned that, The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health warning for Pakistan, alerting people against an ongoing outbreak of “extensively drug-resistant” typhoid fever, which does not respond to most antibiotics. The officials have urged the people to take extra care with food and water, and get vaccinated.

Dr. SM. Qaisar also advised the citizens to wash their hands properly, consume clean food and water. People should avoid consuming outdoor food and drinking water or beverages with ice of unknown purity.

He greatly stressed upon the need to include typhoid’s vaccination within the National Immunization Program, in order to protect people from this severe disease.