Eight die from diarrhea in West Sumatra

Kasparman, The Jakarta Post, Padang

At least eight people have died and 38 others were still undergoing intensive medical care Thursday from cases of severe diarrhea in Pasaman regency, some 170 kilometers north of the provincial capital of Padang this week.

Abdul Rival, chief of the local health office, said here that diarrhea outbreak has plagued the Sarasah Village in Lembang Malintang subdistrict since villagers began consuming ground water that was contaminated by a nearby river.

"The diarrhea broke out in the village after it had been inundated by a recent flood," he said. "We have asked villagers several times not to consume their ground water, but they have ignored the warning."

He said the eight, mostly children, died before getting medical treatment, and that his office has had to dispatch vital medicines such oralit, antibiotics and vitamins to assist those undergoing medical treatment at a public health center in Pasaman.

Rivai said the villagers were having difficulties getting to the public health center in town because their village was so isolated that they had no modern transportation means.

This is the second time the regency has been plagued by serious episodes of diarrhea this year. The first occurred in March, killing dozens of children in several villages in the regency.

Rivai said that, besides providing drugs, his office has sent a medical team to the regency to prevent the diarrhea from spreading further to other villages.