Hundreds of people have sought hospital treatment across Upper Dir over the past three days as cases of gastroenteritis and other waterborne illnesses continue to rise, health officials said.
Children, women and elderly people are among those affected, with patients from Ashirei Dara, Sheringal, Barawal, Dir and surrounding areas reporting severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
District Health Officer Dr Khalid Khan said authorities collected water samples from 40 locations across the district and sent them to Khyber Medical University in Peshawar for laboratory testing. Twenty-nine of the 40 samples were found unsafe for human consumption.
Health officials have also confirmed three cases of cholera, while other patients were diagnosed with illnesses associated with contaminated water.
Although the recent influx has placed pressure on health facilities, Dr Khalid said the situation was being closely monitored and remained under control. Patients with serious symptoms are being admitted, while those with milder illness are being treated and discharged.
The latest surge is part of a longer-running public health problem in the district. According to the DHO, the outbreak has persisted for approximately six weeks, with more than 2,000 patients treated for gastroenteritis and related illnesses during that period.
Following the laboratory findings, the Tehsil Municipal Administration carried out chlorination of water sources in affected communities.
Dr Khalid cautioned, however, that chlorination could provide only an immediate response and was not a permanent solution to the contamination problem, highlighting the need to address the underlying safety of drinking-water supplies.