With three more deaths on Thursday, the toll from the diseases rose to 23 in Sylhet division in last eight days.

Our Staff Correspondent reports from Sylhet:

Diarrhoea is spreading fast in remote flood affected areas of Sunamganj, Jakiganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj upazilas due to scarcity of drinking water as most of the tube wells have gone under water.

The three deaths on Thursday were reported from Jokiganj in Sylhet, official sources said.

In the last 24 hours till yesterday morning, diarrhoea attacked 407 people in Sylhet, 224 in Sunamganj, 328 in Habiganj and 80 in Moulvibazar districts.

A temporary medical camp has been opened at Ratanganj in Jokiganj upazila after three deaths there on Friday last.

In the last one week, 1780 were attacked in Sylhet, 1141 in Sunamganj, 2414 in Habiganj and 397 in Moulvibazar, an official report stated yesterday.

In worst affected Jakiganj, nine people died in a week and 487 others were attacked. Fifty-five people were attacked in the last 24 hours there.

When contacted the Director of Health, Sylhet Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed said, four Assistant Directors have been sent from the Directorate of Health to monitor the post flood health situation in Sylhet region.

They reached the four district headquarters yesterday, he added.

Besides, one Deputy Secretary from the Health Ministry has been deputed for Sylhet.

The official said, besides two mobile teams in each of the upazilas, a "sufficient number" of medical teams formed with paramedics are working in the districts.

But other sources said the medical teams are far short of the requirement in Sylhet division, with 268 medical officials now working against 497 posts, they said.

There are upazila health complexes where only one or two medical officials are working against nine posts.

In frontier Jakiganj upazila, there is one Medical Officer against eight posts.

The situation is serious in Sunamganj where only 60 medical officials are working against 139 posts.

The number is 61 in Moulvivazar against 100 posts, 60 in Habiganj against 121 and 87 in Sylhet district against 137 posts.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was appraised of the situation during her recent visit to flood affected Sunamganj and habiganj districts. She assured the Sunamganj district administration that some of the vacant posts would be filled up soon.

Our B'baria Correspondent reports:

At least 6,592 people have been attacked with diarrhoea and 1,543 children with pneumonia in Brahmanbaria in last seven days, office source says.

Thirty-five diarrhoea patients were admitted to Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital in the last 24 hours, hospital sources said yesterday afternoon. Patients can not come to hospitals as all roads are still under water, they said.

Some patients at the Sadar Hospital told this correspondent during a visit that they are not getting intra-venus saline. They have to buy even oral saline from outside.

A total of 2, 90, 330 flood affected people have taken shelter in 582 flood shelters in the district.

According to Civil Surgeon office sources, 5000 oral saline packets, 25000 water purifying tables, 300 diarrhoea saline packets, 40 kg of bleaching powder have been distributed in the affected areas and flood shelters.

The floodwater is receding very slowly but most areas of the district are still under three feet water. The Brahmanbaria town is still inundated with knee deep water.

Different political and socio-cultural bodies and individuals have started relief distribution, but these are scanty to the needs.