Sardar Muhammad Khondai, Manan Mandohail, News Desk:
CHAMAN, QUETTA: A severe outbreak of diarrhea has hit Chaman in Balochistan, with around 1,400 cases reported in the region. Health officials are keeping a close watch on the situation amid concerns that it may be cholera. Most of the affected individuals, primarily children, have been admitted to the district headquarters hospital in Chaman for treatment.
An emergency has been declared at the hospital to ensure adequate medical care for the patients. The surge in diarrhea cases has prompted Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court (BHC), Mr. Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, to take notice of the situation.
Director General Health Services Balochistan, Dr. Amin Khan Mandokhail, visited the area to inspect the medical facilities at Civil Hospital, PPHI, and the Merck Center. During his visit, Dr. Mandokhail confirmed that there have been no confirmed cases of cholera so far. Samples from suspected cases have been sent to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad and Karachi for further analysis.
The Balochistan government assigned Mr. Mandokhail to visit Chaman, assess the situation, and then submit a detailed report to the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court. “I will be submitting this report to the honorable Chief Justice of the BHC,” Mr. Mandokhail stated.
“Rapid testing kits indicated a potential cholera outbreak, but these results are not conclusive,” Dr. Mandokhail explained. To ensure the reliability of the diagnosis, six samples have also been sent to BMC Quetta’s lab for cross-verification. Additionally, three suspected cholera cases have been forwarded to Karachi for final testing.
Dr. Mandokhail also noted that while the situation in Chaman city is alarming, no cases have been reported from the surrounding areas. The final results of the samples are expected within three days, which will clarify whether cholera is the cause of the outbreak.
Health experts in Chaman have identified contaminated water as the primary cause of the escalating diarrhea cases. The majority of the patients are women and children. In response to the outbreak, the Balochistan health department has declared an emergency in the district. However, there have been no confirmed reports of cholera in the area, despite earlier concerns.
