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JOYPURHAT, Oct 8, 2025 (BSS) - The number of diarrhea patients has increased significantly at the 250-bed General Hospital in Joypurhat district over the past week.

A total of 320 patients have been admitted to the hospital in the last seven days with symptoms of diarrhea, most of whom are elderly and residents of various wards under Joypurhat Municipality.

Doctors and nurses are struggling to cope with the rising number of patients, although the situation has slightly improved as some patients have recovered and returned home after treatment.

During a visit to the diarrhea ward, it was observed that the entire ward was overcrowded with patients. Due to a lack of available beds, many were receiving treatment with saline on the corridor floors outside the ward. At present, the hospital is only admitting diarrhea patients.

Several patients told BSS that most of the affected individuals are from wards 7, 8, and 9 of Joypurhat Municipality. While there are patients from other areas, their number is relatively small. They believe the diarrhea outbreak may be linked to the water supplied by the municipality, alongside seasonal changes.

Assistant Physician of the hospital Dr. Md Harish told BSS that the number of diarrhea patients has been increasing for the past few days, mostly from different neighborhoods within the municipality.

"Diarrhea could be linked to the municipality's water supply, but this can only be confirmed after proper testing," he added.

In this regard, Joypurhat Municipality's Sanitary Inspector Mamunur Rashid said water samples were collected from the affected areas and tested at a laboratory in Bogura.

"No contamination was found in the water samples. If the water was contaminated, residents across the entire municipality would have been affected," he added.

Hospital Superintendent Dr. Sardar Rashed Mubarak said the pressure of diarrhea patients has been high in recent days, though the situation is beginning to ease.

He suspected the outbreak might be linked to the consumption of unhygienic food sold at various fairs organized across the district during the Puja festivities.

"Despite the pressure, we are ensuring proper medical care for all patients," he added.