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)