Twenty die in diarrhea outbreak

TIMIKA, Irian Jaya: Twenty people have died and 10 others have been hospitalized in an outbreak of diarrhea that has hit Mimika regency over the past two weeks, Antara quoted an official yesterday.

Regent Potereyauw said those affected were residents of Kokonau village in West Mimika district. The outbreak began early this month, and was caused by poor hygiene and a shortage of clean water.

The regent told a visiting team of the National Development Planning Board that a medical team had been sent to the affected area to curb the spread of the disease. (swe)