29 MAY 1998. Having spent the last few days researching the local news in various parts of the country, there seems to be a recurring theme with officialdom pointing to the weather as a source of increase in the risk factor for diseases of various infectious diseases. There have also been references to standing water increasing the number of arthropod vectors of disease. As yet, I have not been able to determine if anything is being done to increase the surveillance for these diseases, based on the local news accounts. The heatwave, now sweeping across the country, caused various diseases, like fever, diarrhoea and other stomach disorders, civil surgeon office sources here said.
Children are among the worst-affected groups.
The Independent, a Bangladesh Newspaper. According to an official source, of the total deaths 10 were reported from Patuakhali, six from Barguna, six from Jhalakathi and two from Barisal.