Diarrhea affects over 500 people

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: An outbreak of diarrhea has affected 541 residents of Katikutana district in West Sumba over the past two weeks, Antara reported yesterday.

The news agency quoted Agus Barek, the head of the provincial health office, as saying that two people had died of the illness while hundreds of others had been hospitalized.

The office had sent 37 medical personnel and medical supplies to 15 affected villages, he said. He blamed the outbreak on poor sanitation.

The news agency said that diarrhea had also been reported in Nenobata village in North Timor Tengah regency.

Laak Rafael, a public health official, said in his report to Governor Herman Musakabe that six of the 81 people reported ill had died. (swe)