SHANGLA: An outbreak of appendix has been reported from a village in Larai area of Pirkhan in Shangla over 50 patients have been hospitalized during a week, sudden surge in the appendix patients created a panic among the area’s public.
Locals said that they had taken their patient after the appendicitis pain to Saidu teaching hospital, Swat where their operations conducted because there was no facility for the operation in the area.
They said the number of appendix patients was on rise in the area and they worried because the left side pain ailment created panic among them.
Deputy district health officer, Ghafoor Khan confirmed the outbreak and said that a team had been formed comprising of the medical team and public health department staff to investigate the matter whether the appendix cases caused by the water or something else happened.
He said the area where cases cases was distant area and inaccessible also lack of nearby health facility due to which people preferred to visit Swat for operation.
Sardar Ali, a local said that 56 people had been brought to the Saidu Teaching Hospital from his village and their operation conducted and patients were being brought on daily basis.
“We appeal the district administration to send a team to the affected area and observe the situation and provide assistance as well as ascertain the reason of appendix outbreak,” He said and added that mostly people suffered with the disease were poor and majority was coalminers and even not had payments for medicines.
Naeem Awan, medical superintendent at Saidu Teaching Hospital, told The Northern Post that currently, 79 patients of the appendix admitted at the facility 17 of them from Shangla.
