Malaria plagues Jayapura, Cilacap

JAKARTA (JP): At least 1,300 people in the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura and Cilacap in Central Java have been affected by malaria.

Antara reported that Sarmi district in Irian Jaya was the hardest-hit area, where some 1,100 residents were found on Thursday to be in critical conditions by the Navy medical team now on a civic mission in the province. Hundreds of others were suffering from skin diseases or tuberculosis.

The team, led by Lt. Herry Ajisuwondo, provided medical care for the sufferers and helped locals build roads, community buildings and a church. They are also giving a short course on agriculture.

In Cilacap, malaria was found in Kampung Laut district, where 200 people have been affected and two people have died. Regent Herry Tabri and health officials visited the fishermen's villages and gave out medicines on Thursday.

The regent said he found almost all people in Ujung Alang village had been affected with fever caused by malaria.

He suspected that lack of awareness of sanitation had enabled the disease to spread.

Cilacap is one of 11 regencies in Central Java listed as vulnerable to malaria.(45)