Respiratory diseases kill 229<\/p>\n
WAMENA, Irian Jaya: Respiratory diseases have killed 229
\npeople since January in two subdistricts in the Jayawijaya
\nregency, an official said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Jayawijaya regent J.B. Wenas said that the diseases claimed
\n120 lives in the Okbibab subdistrict and another 109 in the
\nWamena subdistrict of Trikora.<\/p>\n
He said a complete picture of the epidemic affecting the two
\nsubdistricts is difficult to obtain because of the absence of
\ncommunication facilities.<\/p>\n
"The report on the epidemic came too late because of poor
\ncommunication and transportation," Antara quoted Wenas as saying.
\nHe added that the government has sent medical personnel and
\nsupplied medicine to the stricken areas.<\/p>\n
Wenas said the local administration was also in need of 10
\ntons of rice to help people the isolated areas.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Sujudi said on Friday that there was no
\nsuch epidemic in the regency and that the death tolls were the
\naccumulated number of deaths in the two districts since November.
\nHe added that the deaths could have been caused not only by
\nrespiratory disease but by malaria, diarrhea and influenza.<\/p>\n
The number of deaths is uncertain and a team from Jakarta is
\nstill investigating the matter, he reported. (rms)<\/p>",
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