20 in Merauke die of diarrhea

20 in Merauke die of diarrhea

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Twenty people have died of diarrhea and cholera in the past month, Antara reported Saturday.

The agency quoted Dr. Benyamin Simatupang, the head of the local Ministry of Health office, as saying that a diarrhea outbreak has hit Simsagar village in the Pantai Kasuari district, while cholera hit the Sawa Erma district. The districts, both in the Merauke regency, have been experiencing the health problems since November.

Nine in Simsagar have died and 60 others have been hospitalized. Eleven residents of Sawa Erma have died, while 180 others are currently being treated for cholera, Simatupang said.

Most of the casualties have been children between the ages of four to 14.

Simatupang said much of the medication his office has sent to the stricken areas is still piled up in Mopah airport in Merauke. Bad weather has also been hampering efforts to transport the medication, he said. (swe)