Diarrhea outbreak kills four

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post/Padang

An outbreak of diarrhea has been plaguing Solok municipality, West Sumatra, since last week, leaving at least four people dead and 217 others hospitalized at one stage or another, local officials said on Tuesday.

Solok health office director Azwar Hijar said the victims had died in separate hospitals, or before arriving at the hospital, from serious dehydration after not seeking medical treatment in time.

The four dead victims were identified as Kamal, 52, Upik, 49, Atika, 9, and Pegi Indriani, a 18-month-old girl. They died between Nov. 9 and Nov. 13, when the diarrhea outbreak was at its height.

Azwar said at least 217 other sufferers had been hospitalized in the Solok General Hospital and the local military hospital, but most had been allowed to return home.

"There are currently only 30 diarrhea patients being treated in the two hospitals. They were admitted on Sunday," he added.

Azwar said the diarrhea outbreak was probably due to contaminated drinks or food prepared using contaminated seaweed.

According to Azwar, some of the victims said that they had suffered cramps and started vomiting after consuming beverages they had bought in Bareh traditional market in the city.

"We have yet to determine the type of bacteria. We have taken samples of vomit and excrement from the patients for tests at the West Sumatra Health Laboratory in Pangilun, Padang. It will take a week for the results," Azwar added.

However, he said most of the victims had probably been infected when they took their relatives suffering from diarrhea to the hospital, or visited them there.

"We suspect they picked up the bug from patients in the hospital as people stopped consuming iced seaweed and drinks from Bareh market one day after Nov. 9, the first day of the diarrhea outbreak," Azwar explained.

He said the Solok health office was opening a center that would be open around the clock to handle the outbreak, adding that it would provide data, information and guidance, as well as medicine, for local people.

Azwar said his office on Monday had distributed around 800 bottles of rehydration fluid and 7,000 tetracycline antidiarrhea capsules, which had been provided by the West Sumatra health office.

The local health office has also been disseminating information via pamphlets and radio announcements in Solok on the need for people to consume hygienically prepared food and drinks, he added.