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Dirty water kills 10 in PakistanFrom CNN Producer Syed Mohsin Naqvi YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSLAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- At least 10 people have died and more than 800 have been hospitalized -- including dozens in critical condition -- after drinking contaminated water in the Pakistan city of Lahore, authorities and health officials said Wednesday. Health officials said more than 40 people remain in critical condition in several hospitals in Lahore. The water in downtown Lahore became contaminated after a sewage leak that seeped into the water system. One hospital official said he expects the number of cases to rise. Officials said those sickened are suffering from gastroenteritis, an infection caused by a variety of viruses that typically results in vomiting or diarrhea, and can be contagious. They fell sick after drinking the contaminated water from their taps. Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi, the chief minister of Punjab province, told CNN he had already appointed a committee to investigate the matter and said the government has turned some schools into emergency centers to help deal with the problem. Doctors are visiting the most affected areas and medical teams are providing clean water to residents, he said. According to the U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases, gastroenteritis can become a serious illness for those who cannot replace liquids lost from vomiting and diarrhea -- most often the young and elderly. It can spread through close contact with infected persons. 
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