Five Bogor residents die mysteriously

BOGOR: Five residents of the same neighborhood in Kampung Parung Alen in Cikeas village, Sukaraja district, Bogor regency, died from a mysterious illness within 10 days of each other.

The victims were Tiyah, 15, her mother Nayah, 60, her mother- in-law Upi, 60, Aisyah, 35, and Herni, 13. They died between April 9 and April 19.

Tiyah's father, Uci, said that on April 12, Tiyah had a high fever, stomachache and headache. "I thought it was just a common illness, so I bought drugs at a warung (street stall), but there was no improvement. I was about to call for a mantri (medical aide), but she died."

Nayah died the following day. Before her death, her family took her to Salak Hospital in Bogor, but she could not be saved.

Herni's mother, Hakin, was running a high fever the night before she died on April 9.

Aisyah died on April 18, followed by Upi the following day.

The head of the local Epidemiology Surveillance and Immunization Office, Eulis Wulantari, said the cause of death was a mystery.

She suspected that Nayah and Aisyah died due to kidney failure, while Herni and Tiyah may have died from dengue hemorrhagic fever, while Upi may have had typhoid.

She said the Bogor health agency had checked 45 houses and found the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue fever, in four houses.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is common in the densely populated Kampung Parung Alen. Sanitation in the area is poor and houses are located close to dirty goat enclosures. --JP