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.