Alongside waterborne diseases, snakes have become an alarming problem in flood-hit areas of Chattogram. So far during the current flood, 75 people have been bitten by snakes, and another 20 to 25 have fallen ill with diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases.

Chattogram district civil surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam gave the figures on 12 July.

He said special medical teams from the health department were working in the flood-hit areas, providing treatment and distributing medicines and oral saline. They have been instructed to take any pregnant women or sick children in flooded areas to hospital quickly by boat.

The civil surgeon said snakebites had risen as snakes moved into shelters and homes because of the flood. So far 75 victims have been identified and are receiving treatment, and upazila health complexes have been prepared to treat snakebite.

He added that 20 to 25 people had been affected by diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases over the same period. Although the situation has not yet become alarming, there is a risk that waterborne infections will rise after the water recedes because of contaminated water, unhygienic conditions and sanitation problems.

The health department has urged people in flood-hit areas to be careful. It advises them to take care when moving about at night, to test the ground with a stick before stepping into water, and, if bitten by a snake, to go straight to the nearest hospital without delay or resorting to faith healers. It has also urged people to drink safe water, maintain sanitation and seek treatment promptly if they fall ill.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.