29 MAY 1998. BANGLADESH: DISEASE
"It appears that weather conditions in Bangladesh may
be exacerbating the incidence of disease. Having spent the last few days
researching the local news in various parts of the country, there seems
to be a recurring theme with officialdom pointing to the weather as a source
of increase in the risk factor for diseases of various infectious diseases.
There have also been references to standing water increasing the number
of arthropod vectors of disease. As yet, I have not been able to determine
if anything is being done to increase the surveillance for these diseases,
based on the local news accounts. (SECTION DELETED) Another report adds
from Kurigram: Diarrhoea induced by persisting heatwave has claimed three
lives and attacked some 10 thousand people in the district in last two
weeks, official sources said. (SECTION DELETED) The heatwave, now sweeping
across the country, caused various diseases, like fever, diarrhoea and
other stomach disorders, civil surgeon office sources here said. Children
are among the worst-affected groups. Besides, the hot and humid weather
is hampering classes in schools as well [as] barring people from coming
out of their homes. (SECTION DELETED) Source: The Independent, a Bangladesh
Newspaper. BARISAL, May 18: A total of 24 people were died (sic) and at
least 5,000 others were attacked with diarrhoea in different districts
of Barisal division in the last one month. [Barisal is in the middle of
the Ganges delta - Mod.JW] According to an official source, of the total
deaths 10 were reported from Patuakhali, six from Barguna, six from Jhalakathi
and two from Barisal. Of the victims, 14 died during the last one week.
But unofficial sources said the death figure would bemuch higher than the
official one." --Michael Peat MIKE@inside-us.com VIA ProMED-mail post http://www.healthnet.org/programs/promed.html.
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1997 El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO 97-98)