Diarrhea kills 3 on Komodo Island

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: Three people have died and 13 others have been hospitalized in an outbreak of diarrhea which has struck the district of Komodo, Manggarai regency, beginning in February.

Bonevasius Say, spokesman for the Manggarai administration told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that most of the diarrhea victims were children under five.

The head of the Contagious Disease Eradication Office, Makarius Ngganggu confirmed the reports. "The victims were identified as Kinarti (3), Tina (3.5) and Hasan (5.5)."

According to Makarius a total of 108 people have suffered from diarrhea, "but now there are only 13 being treated at the Labuan Bajo health center."

"All the patients were in a bad condition. They needed prompt attention," he said, adding that four health officials, with necessary medicines, had been sent from the neighboring regency of Ruteng to the Labuan Bajo health center. (yac/sur)