Mysterious disease causes stomach distension among dozens of Helmand children

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Many people, most of them children have infected with a mysterious disease causing stomach distension in southern Helmand province, local officials said Monday.

Abdul Bari, a resident of Helmand province, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the stomach of her baby girl was unexpectedly swollen and he referred her to Bust Civil Hospital in Lashkargah, the provincial capital.

“I am a resident of Musa Kala district, our people recently imported wheat from neighbour Iran and anyone who consume it their stomach get distension,” he said.

Another patient attendant, Noorullah, whose son infected with the same disease, said that he brought his child from Baghran district to the hospital.

He said, “The stomach of my child has swollen abnormally, he gets the medicine prescribed by the doctor since the last few days but it did not help.”

Zalmai Pashton, head of Helmand Provincial Civil Hospital, said that they received around 32 patients with the same disease in the last few days.

“Most of them are children, they are brought from Baghran and Musa Kala districts, but the main reason of the disease is still not clear,” he said.

He said that a sample of the disease was sent to Kabul for further medical examination. No one has been died of the disease so far, he added.

However, a resident of Washir district of Helmand, Niamatullah said that two people were died of the disease in their area.

“Their stomachs were swollen, one was a youth and the other was a child, both died,” he added.

In 2008, 61 people were infected with a similar disease in Gulran district of Herat province.

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