Islamabad, Oct 29 (NationPress) In a troubling health crisis in Pakistan, an alarming outbreak of gastroenteritis has resulted in nine fatalities on the outskirts of Karachi, leading the government to declare a health emergency in the affected regions and the adjacent Malir district.

The victims were identified as residents of Faiz Muhammad Burro Goth near Bahria Town Karachi, located within the jurisdiction of the Thana Bola Khan area in Jamshoro district.

Confirming the fatalities, Sindh Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho stated in a video message that initial investigations suggested the outbreak originated after attendees at a funeral over a week ago ingested contaminated food and water, resulting in widespread illness.

“A medical camp has been operational in the area for over a week, with 24-hour emergency services now available at three local hospitals. Mobile hospital vans are also on the ground, offering basic laboratory and medical services to affected individuals,” reported Dawn.

The Minister elaborated that the District Health Officers (DHOs) were managing the situation and that the Rescue 1122 ambulance service was placed on high alert.

Malir DHO Imdad Channa remarked that, although the outbreak was primarily in Jamshoro district, hospitals in surrounding areas were also on heightened alert.

“Government hospitals in Jamshoro, Dumba Goth (Gadap), and Murad Memon Goth (Malir) are on high alert. The situation is now under control,” he stated, adding that locals were relying on water from an open underground tank for their daily needs.

Experts characterize gastroenteritis as an intestinal infection marked by symptoms such as watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting, and occasionally fever, often resulting from contact with an infected individual or consumption of tainted food or water.

Reports indicate that earlier in 2023, a woman in a Malir village succumbed to gastroenteritis, affecting hundreds throughout the city due to the infection.

Experts believe that this outbreak was likely due to the consumption of contaminated food and water, combined with unsanitary conditions arising from animal slaughter across the city during Eid al-Azha.

According to sources, leading daily Dawn reported that over 4,200 patients sought treatment in Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, and The Indus Hospital within a week amid the gastroenteritis outbreak in the Malir district.