Deaths of 29 people probed

Deaths of 29 people probed

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The health authorities are still
checking on reports that 29 people in the Sabu Island have
recently died in a diarrhea outbreak, Antara reported yesterday.

The head of the local office of Ministry of Health, Dr. Agus
Y.G. Berek, said that a team of paramedics, armed with medical
supplies, has been sent to the areas reportedly stricken with the
epidemy.

Two of the worst hit areas were the northern and southern part
of the Central Timor regency.

He said that due to communication problems, the actual number
of those who died might differ from that in the reports.

"If there were indeed 29 deaths within only one or two week,s
that means the health status of the local people is very poor,"
he said. "Those deaths would constitute a disaster."

Dr. Berek, however, added that over the past month, a total of
213 children under five years of age have been affected by dengue
fever. One infant died in the outbreak which mostly hit the areas
of Kupang and Takari districts.