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Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, is currently grappling with a severe cholera outbreak as a result of the supply of sewage-mixed water in all seven districts. Health officials from the Sindh health department and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have reported at least 55 lab-confirmed cases of cholera in the city so far in 2023. Moreover, a total of 75 lab-confirmed cholera cases have been recorded in Sindh province this year.
According to an official from the Communicable Disease Control in the Directorate General Health Services Sindh, the reported cases of cholera are just the tip of the iceberg. The province has already witnessed over half a million cases of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) during the first six months of this year. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by the consumption of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The WHO considers cholera a global threat to public health, indicative of social inequality and a lack of social development.
The official further explained that the number of lab-confirmed cholera cases in Karachi is relatively low due to limited testing. The most recent lab-confirmed case of cholera was reported in District Malir on July 5, where four deaths have been attributed to the water-borne disease.
District East of Karachi division has witnessed the highest number of lab-confirmed cholera cases in 2023, with 16 individuals testing positive for the disease. District West has reported 14 lab-confirmed cases, followed by District South with 11 cases, District Central with seven cases, District Keamari with four cases, and District Malir with three cases.
Globally, there are 1.3 million to 4 million reported cases of cholera each year, resulting in 21,000 to 143,000 deaths. If left untreated, cholera can lead to death within hours.
According to officials at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad, at least 43 deaths have been reported in 11 districts of Pakistan, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, due to cholera. However, the actual number of deaths may be much higher, as many cases go untested.
Dr Khurram Shahzad, a physician and expert in water-borne diseases, highlighted the dire situation in Sindh and Balochistan, where people lack access to clean drinking water. He stated that last year, over 6.4 million cases of acute watery diarrhoea, often called “diarrhoea,” were reported in Pakistan. This year, approximately three million cases have already been reported.
Gastroenterologists recommend boiling water for at least 10 minutes before consumption, as it is the most effective method for killing bacteria that cause cholera, acute watery diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, and typhoid.
Dr Shahid Ahmed, a professor of gastroenterology in Karachi, warned that the city’s residents have been receiving sewage-mixed water for several decades, leading to a surge in water-borne illnesses. He urged individuals to use boiled or clean drinking water to protect themselves from diseases such as cholera, typhoid, acute watery diarrhoea, and gastroenteritis.
