700 Seram people struck by malaria

AMBON, Maluku: Malaria has affected more than 700 residents of Seram regency in Maluku over the past two weeks, resulting in 16 deaths, an official said on Tuesday.

"Most of the people affected with the disease are women and children," said Tini Pawa, a senior official at the provincial health office.

Most of those affected live in Amarsekaru subdistrict, Tini said. According to her, the majority of the deaths occurred because of a lack of medical care.

The Maluku health office is sending a team of doctors to deal with the malaria outbreak in the regency. -- JP