Diarrhea hospitalizes 36 and kills one on Panggang Island

Diarrhea hospitalizes 36 and kills one on Panggang Island

JAKARTA (JP): An outbreak of diarrhea has killed one person
and caused 36 other people to be hospitalized in Panggang -- one
of the Seribu islands -- a newspaper report said.

The outbreak of the disease in the area was due to the dearth
of drinking water during the current prolonged dry season, Suara
Pembaruan reported yesterday.

The daily said the epidemic has affected area residents since
early this month. It is feared that unless prompt and effective
medical treatment is carried out, the disease could spread
further and claim more lives.

Most of the victims suffered the disease because they were
forced to drink contaminated water in the absence of drinking
water.

"The shortage of drinking water in the area is the worst
suffered by us in recent years," a resident said.

He said all the victims are now in intensive care at a nearby
hospital but added that, "one of them died after several days at
the hospital."

Polluted wells

He said all the wells in the area have practically dried up.
"Even if there is still water in the wells, it is highly
polluted," he said.

"Despite this fact," he added, "many people had no choice but
to use it as drinking water. Obviously, this has only served to
worsen their physical condition."

An official sent by the state-owned water company to provide
drinking water to area residents said the condition of the people
there was quite miserable.

"Besides diarrhea, many children there are suffering from
severe skin diseases. They are a pitiful sight indeed," he said.

He said the city water company has distributed 35 tons of
drinking water to the diarrhea-affected areas including Pulau,
Pangang, Pramuka, Tidung, Kelapa and Untung subdistricts

Those areas are included on the list of the least developed
villages in the country. (bas)