More deaths from polluted water

Water-borne diseases have hit many areas

At least 18 people have died and 150 have been admitted to hospital after an outbreak of gastroenteritis in the Pakistani province of Balochistan.

The outbreak, in the Zhob area, some 300km north east of Quetta, was caused by contaminated water, officials say.

On Wednesday it emerged that 10 people have died in Pakistani-administered Kashmir from water-borne diseases.

Last month at least 10 people died in Lahore in Punjab province from contaminated water.

Women and children

Balochistan health authorities say the Zhob area relies for its drinking water supplies mainly on stored rain water which has become contaminated in some areas.

Doctor Abdur Rahim Sherani said that, in total, about 600 people were affected by the outbreak during the past week-and-a-half, most of them women and children.

The first case of illness was reported in a village mostly inhabited by Afghan refugees.

In Pakistan-administered Kashmir at least 10 people have died in the last seven days from gastroenteritis. Hundreds more have been taken ill.

Doctors say that this is first time in recent years that so many people have been affected by the disease in the hilly areas of the territory.