Bangladesh Temps Hottest In 20 Years - 40,000+ With Acute Gastro Disease As Water Quality Plunges

[hatrack]

Thousands of people are being treated for diarrhoea across Bangladesh as high temperatures mean people are drinking more water which is often unclean. Health officials warn that more people are likely to need treatment as they consume water in the hottest temperatures for more than 20 years.

They warn that people living in the capital Dhaka are particularly at risk. They are having to contend with the humidity as well as water shortages, power cuts and overcrowded hospitals.

"We're treating the highest number of patients in the pre-monsoon season during our 45 years in existence," Dr Azharul Islam Khan of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research told the AFP news agency. "The situation is very grim and reaching epidemic levels in Dhaka and its outskirts. An acute crisis of water and an unusually prolonged heatwave are to blame for such a severe outbreak."

The hospital says that at least 16 people have died of diarrhoea-related illnesses since the beginning of March - and the hospital has treated more than 40,000 patients since then.

EDIT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8022829.stm