With more than half the country under floodwater and millions homeless, the people in the submerged areas are battling against a disease that could soon turn out to be the biggest catastrophe. Lack of safe drinking water, water purifying tablets, medical supplies like ORS and other medicines only add to the woes people have been suffering since the beginning of the flood season. There have been reports about people using water from the wells without boiling or chlorinating it in any way. The prices of water purification tablets and ORS have also gone up.

The government must act fast if it really wants to avert an epidemic breaking out. Already the hospitals and other treatment centres are not being able to accommodate all those who are rushing in there. ICDDR,B in Dhaka has already admitted patients three times their capacity. The situation is likely to deteriorate further once the water begins to recede considerably. The government should immediately take measures to beef up supplies of ORS, chlorophenical tablets, medicines and vaccines. The scarcity of potable water is the real scourge now; unless we ensure its abundant supply, the people's vulnerability to water-borne diseases can not be contained.