Diarrhea affects infants in Batam

BATAM (JP): Dozens of infants and under-five children have fallen victim to gastroenteritis in Batam, with some of the children having been sick now for over a week.

The children are being treated at a number of clinics, Antara reported on Thursday.

Head of the local health office's disease prevention and eradication section, Sri Widyastuti, said no reports had been received from public health centers on the incidence of diarrhea in the region.

Meanwhile, a lot more children are believed to be receiving treatment at home.

The health office has instructed all health centers on the island to be on the alert for any symptoms of the ailment and to take immediate action where necessary.