Daily Star, 9 July 2002
UNB, Khagrachhari
The killer disease, Malaria that broke out in an epidemic form in three hill
districts, claimed lives of 242 people and affected about 1,12,000 others during
the last six months.
Health department sources said, children and women were the worst affected and the victims died within 24 hours of the attack.
The treatment is being seriously hampered due to shortage of doctors and insufficient
supplies of medicine, locals said.
According to hospital sources, in Khagrachhari about 94 people died of malaria
in eight upazila hospitals and private clinics during the period.
About 33,000 others were afflicted with the disease and they got treatment from
different hospitals and private clinics.
Eightyone people died in 10 upazilas of Rangamati and 42,000 others were affected
during the same period.
In Bandarban about 67 people died in seven upazilas. During the period about 37,000 people were affected with the disease.
Local leaders and public representatives said the killer disease has been spreading
in new areas creating panic among the local people.
They urged the government to supply necessary medicine to combat the spread
of the disease.