Three W. Sumatrans die from diarrhea

PADANG, West Sumatra: Three people have died and 97 others have been hospitalized for acute diarrhea over the past three weeks in Lima Puluh Kota regency, West Sumatra.

Sumirman Noerman, head of the regency's health office, said most of the patients were admitted to the hospital a few days before Idul Fitri, which fell on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15.

Government officials have taken water samples from the wells of those afflicted and from the supply at the local tap water company to test for contamination by bacteria that could have caused the condition, said Sumirman. -- JP