16 hospitalized in fresh Bogor diarrhea outbreak
16 hospitalized in fresh Bogor diarrhea outbreak
JAKARTA (JP): At least 16 people are being treated at the
Bogor Red Cross public hospital following the outbreak of a
disease causing severe diarrhea in the regency.
According to hospital staff, apart from Bogor town residents
the victims treated over the past two days come from several
districts surrounding the town which is 60 kilometers south of
Jakarta.
The victims from Bogor town, Ciomas, Cibinong and Ciampea
range in age from 21 to 60 years old.
The head of the Bogor regency health office, Dr. Adjo
Sukardjan, said diarrhea is a common occurrence during the dry
season. He said areas lacking in clean water are extremely prone
to diseases that cause diarrhea.
Adjo also noted the unhygienic lifestyle of the community as a
major factor in outbreaks of diseases causing diarrhea.
The Bogor regency spokesperson, Denny M. Moechry, concurred
that lack of proper hygiene is a major problem.
Denny revealed a study conducted by the local administration,
which found that 60 percent of all patients suffering from
diarrhea exhibited poor knowledge of proper hygiene.
He said outbreaks of diarrhea in the past have been frequent
in communities lying along various rivers surrounding the town.
Among the most vulnerable areas are along the Ciliwung river
passing through Megamendung village and the Cidurian river
passing through the Cigudeg and Jasinga districts.
Despite repeated warnings residents continue to drink water
from the river, Denny said as quoted by Antara.
Last year an epidemic broke out in a number of villages in the
Rumpin and Jonggol districts, where the inhabitants are known to
consume water from the Cimanteri river.
He further said that local authorities have called on people
to drive wells to ensure access to cleaner drinking water, but
these suggestions often go unheeded.
To avoid a wide-scale epidemic, Denny pleaded to the public to
boil their drinking water and to avoid foods sold or prepared in
unhygienic surroundings. (mds)