At least four persons including a child were killed and about 1000 attacked with the diseases in last seven days, official sources said yesterday.

Osman Gani, 45 and Safia Khatun, 2 of Silongdaho village in Tarash upazila died on Friday. The rest two victims were from Raiganj and Chowhali upazila, but officials at the Civil Surgeons office could not give their details.

The affected people have been admitted to different health complexes, hospitals and clinics.

The officials said the diseases are spreading rapidly as a fallout of the cold wave now sweeping the county.

The figure of affected persons is increasing day by day in different hospitals and clinics as the necessary steps were not taken by the concern authorities in proper time to protect the poor people from cold.

A doctor at Sirajganj sadar Hospital seeking anonymity told this correspondent that most of patients admitted to the hospital were victims of river erosion in Char (shoals) areas.

On the other hand, patients are facing accommodation and medicare problem at hospitals, some of them said.

Dr. Awal, Residential Medical Officer of Sadar Hospital, said shortage of saline is hampering treatment of patients.

Sirajganj Civil Surgeon MiZanur Rahman said cold related diseases are increasing in the district every day but they have no support to prevent it.