Dysentery kills five

Dysentery kills five

AMBON, Maluku: Five residents of Kesui island in East Seram
regency have died and dozens of others were treated at local
community health centers on Wednesday after suffering from
dysentery and vomiting.

Chief of Watubela, Kesui and Teor Islands' Community Union
Dien Kelilauw blamed the poor medical facilities for the high
number of fatalities.

"As of Wednesday, five have died," said Dien, who is also head
of the state news agency Antara in Ambon, the capital of Maluku
province.

He also complained of the Maluku government's lack of
attention to the health of people in remote areas in the
province. He added that the outbreak occurred a week ago but the
government only sent doctors along with medicine on Wednesday.

Deputy head of Maluku provincial health office Fenno Tahalele
confirmed that the office had sent doctors and other medical
staff to the remote island, and he hoped that the outbreak could
be quickly addressed. -- JP