Polluted spring causes diarrhea

Polluted spring causes diarrhea

DILI, East Timor: At least 185 people on Atauro Island, some
11 miles north of here, suffered from diarrhea after using water
from a polluted spring, a local health official said yesterday.

Head of the provincial office of the Ministry of Health Dr.
Rustam S. Pakaya told Antara Monday that although most of the
villagers received medical treatment, four of them were admitted
into intensive care.

"Thankfully, no one was killed by the disease," Rustam said.

The diarrhea outbreak reportedly started at the Berau village
and spread to the villages of Ili Timur, Taklo and Anartuto.

Rustam said the health authorities treated the spring after
instructing villagers to stop using it temporarily. (swe)