In 1978 almost 200000 Burmese refugees entered Bangladesh. Thirteen camps were set up for refugees. Data for the camp at Leda is presented here. There were four medical clinics; including a diarrhoea clinic operated by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. The four clinics recorded a total of 174201 visits by the refugees, of which 28% were for watery diarrhoea, 32% for dysentery and 40% for other illnesses. Of 2321 diarrhoea stools cultured. 29.2% yielded pathogens of which 22% were Shigellae alone. Coliform count of water was extremely high. The death rate (89/1000/year) was higher than the birth rate (28/1000/year). Most of the deaths were among infants (640), children (357) and old people (131). Main causes of death were clinical diarrhoea (11.8%), fever (23%) and poor nutrition (52%). Prompt arrangements for food, identifying the vulnerable groups, and proper sanitation perhaps could have reduced the number of deaths considerably. © 1983 Oxford University Press.

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Short Survey refugee human Refugees health status Aged geographic distribution morbidity digestive system Adolescent male female Infant Myanmar diarrhea fatality adult ethnic or racial aspects Bangladesh recreation cause of death mortality Child