Six die from diarrhea in NTT

Six die from diarrhea in NTT

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: At least six people have died in the latest outbreak of diarrhea over the last month, while 40 others are still undergoing intensive treatment in public health centers in remote parts of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), local health officials say.

Herman Man, chief of the local health office, said here on Friday that the victims had become vulnerable to diarrhea because they had contracted malaria some time ago, which had sapped their strength and weakened their immune system.

"All the victims were aged between 50 and 70 and they died due to combination of malaria and diarrhea," he said.

Herman said the Berlimen subdistrict was the worst hit by the diarrhea outbreak.

M.B. Ataupah, head of the public health center in Oekabiti, said the victims had similar symptoms such as high fever, diarrhea and their bodies had turned black and blue.

He added that the victims could not be helped because they were living in remote areas and were only rushed to public health centers when it was too late.

He explained that malaria and diarrhea had broken out in the province because locals liked sleeping in open areas and the drinking water was contaminated. --JP