Eleven die in diarrhea outbreak

Eleven die in diarrhea outbreak

SIMEULEU, West Aceh: Eight people have died and 300 others are
seriously ill following an outbreak of diarrhea in the
subdistricts of Central and East Simeuleu.

Kompas quoted Iman Jaya SKM of the local health office as
saying that the illness struck suddenly. He said the authorities
had dispatched a team of paramedics to the stricken areas of the
island.

AFP quoted Syarifuffin, the head of the Aceh provincial health
office, as saying the illness had been caused by bad hygiene and
a shortage of clean drinking water. It had spread to other
subdistricts there.

The island, home to 62,000 people, has no hospitals and only a
few small public health centers. (swe)