Cholera not gastroenteritis hits Mirpur Khas

LAHORE - Scientists at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) have discovered the outbreak of cholera in Mirpur Khas, a district of Sindh province.
Addressing a press conference her on Monday, UHS Microbiology Department's Head Prof Dr Maj Gen (R) Abdul Hannan claimed that according to the research carried out in this regard, the district Mirpur Khas was affected by cholera instead of gastroenteritis.
He said that the authorities concerned should pay special attention towards the outbreak of cholera which could spread to the other areas of the province.
Vice Chancellor of the UHS Prof Dr. Malik Hussain Mubashar was also present on the occasion. The VC UHS termed the development as great achievement and hailed the efforts of the head of the department and its team which made stringent efforts round the clock and discovered cholera in the Sindh's affected district Mirpur Khas.
This report of the UHS experts could help Sindh government in making a comprehensive strategy to challenge the disease and its further stoppage in other areas of the province, the UHS vice chancellor said.
Prof Dr Maj Gen (R) Abdul Hannan has claimed that he has studied stool samples of 18 patients from Mirpur Khas district of Sindh who were supposed to be suffering from gastroenteritis. "Eight out of 18 samples of faeces are found to be infected with Vibrio Cholerae, a bacterium which is the main cause of cholera", he disclosed. The specimen of faeces were received from Civil Hospital Mirpur Khas in buffered glycerol saline prepared and sent by the University of Health Sciences, he added.