The United Nations has confirmed at least one case of cholera in flood-ravaged Pakistan, where a second wave of water continues to threaten parts of Sindh province.
The cholera case was reported in Mingora, the main town in the northwestern Swat valley, which has seen some of the most extensive damage.
Maurizio Giuliano, a spokesman for the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs, said on Saturday the world body had stepped up its efforts to treat cases of diarrhoea, which already affects more than 36,000 people in northwest Pakistan.
"Given that there are concerns about cholera, which is a very deadly disease, what we've started to do instead of testing them for cholera is to treat everyone for cholera," he said.
The cholera fears add to a growing litany of health concerns in Pakistan. In the Multan area of Punjab province, medical workers have reported at least 1,000 children with illnesses like gastroenteritis.
"Before the floodwater, normally we checked only 40 children a day. Now the number has increased twice," Mumtaz Hussain, a doctor at the main government hospital, said.
Unsanitary conditions and a lack of safe drinking water have created the potential for serious disease outbreaks, according to medical workers.
Flooding has killed more than 1,600 people in Pakistan since July 29, and the UN fears the final death toll could be far higher. Millions of acres of crops have been submerged, and more than 14 million people have been affected by the floods.
Festivities cancelled
Pakistanis will mark a sombre independence day on Saturday, more than two weeks after the flooding began.
Officials said on Friday that the government had cancelled its planned independence day festivities. A simple flag-raising ceremony will mark the end of British colonial rule 63 years ago.
General Ashfaq Kayani, the army chief of staff, said the military will use the money saved to bolster relief efforts.
Meanwhile, Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari will make his second trip to flood-affected areas. He will visit parts of the northwest, and Punjab province in central Pakistan. His first visit to the affected areas was on Thursday.
The UN said on Friday that it has received just 20 per cent of the $460mn it needs to provide emergency aid. Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Saturday to appeal for further donations.
Pakistan says it is considering a $5mn aid offer from India, its neighbour and historic rival. The government is also considering a new tax to pay for flood relief efforts, according to Pakistan's Express Tribune newspaper.
Sindh surge
Rains continue to fall in parts of Pakistan, and another surge of water is expected to reach Sindh province by Saturday night.
Pakistan's meteorological office has put the chances of flooding at "high" or "very high."
Waters have been rising at the Kotri barrage along the Indus river and threatening to overrun the river's embankments. Flooding at Kotri could threaten the city of Hyderabad.
Residents of the city of Jacobabad in Sindh were taking no chances. Kazim Jatoi, a city administrator, told the Reuters news agency that more than two-thirds of the city's 300,000 people have fled in recent days.
Authorities are now trying to evacuate the rest of Jacobabad's population, as well as several other towns along the Indus.
The cholera case was reported in Mingora, the main town in the northwestern Swat valley, which has seen some of the most extensive damage.
Maurizio Giuliano, a spokesman for the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs, said on Saturday the world body had stepped up its efforts to treat cases of diarrhoea, which already affects more than 36,000 people in northwest Pakistan.
"Given that there are concerns about cholera, which is a very deadly disease, what we've started to do instead of testing them for cholera is to treat everyone for cholera," he said.
The cholera fears add to a growing litany of health concerns in Pakistan. In the Multan area of Punjab province, medical workers have reported at least 1,000 children with illnesses like gastroenteritis.
"Before the floodwater, normally we checked only 40 children a day. Now the number has increased twice," Mumtaz Hussain, a doctor at the main government hospital, said.
Unsanitary conditions and a lack of safe drinking water have created the potential for serious disease outbreaks, according to medical workers.
Flooding has killed more than 1,600 people in Pakistan since July 29, and the UN fears the final death toll could be far higher. Millions of acres of crops have been submerged, and more than 14 million people have been affected by the floods.
Festivities cancelled
Pakistanis will mark a sombre independence day on Saturday, more than two weeks after the flooding began.
Officials said on Friday that the government had cancelled its planned independence day festivities. A simple flag-raising ceremony will mark the end of British colonial rule 63 years ago.
General Ashfaq Kayani, the army chief of staff, said the military will use the money saved to bolster relief efforts.
Meanwhile, Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari will make his second trip to flood-affected areas. He will visit parts of the northwest, and Punjab province in central Pakistan. His first visit to the affected areas was on Thursday.
The UN said on Friday that it has received just 20 per cent of the $460mn it needs to provide emergency aid. Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Saturday to appeal for further donations.
Pakistan says it is considering a $5mn aid offer from India, its neighbour and historic rival. The government is also considering a new tax to pay for flood relief efforts, according to Pakistan's Express Tribune newspaper.
Sindh surge
Rains continue to fall in parts of Pakistan, and another surge of water is expected to reach Sindh province by Saturday night.
Pakistan's meteorological office has put the chances of flooding at "high" or "very high."
Waters have been rising at the Kotri barrage along the Indus river and threatening to overrun the river's embankments. Flooding at Kotri could threaten the city of Hyderabad.
Residents of the city of Jacobabad in Sindh were taking no chances. Kazim Jatoi, a city administrator, told the Reuters news agency that more than two-thirds of the city's 300,000 people have fled in recent days.
Authorities are now trying to evacuate the rest of Jacobabad's population, as well as several other towns along the Indus.
