Two people die of cholera

Two people die of cholera

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Two have died of cholera and 567
others have been affected in Takalar regency, 70 kilometers south
of Ujungpandang.

The director of the Pattalassang General Hospital, Rivai
Ibrahim, told The Jakarta Post Monday that the epidemic began on
Feb. 24 but has only more recently become known after the
provincial health agency announced its findings of affected
residents.

Residents had earlier thought that the symptoms of vomiting
and stomach ache affecting hundreds of people were related to
diarrhea.

Rivai said the hospital had earlier admitted an average of 12
persons a day. "Now there are three or four patients a day," he
said. He added the 567 patients were in 12 community centers
besides his hospital, which was becoming overcrowded.

He added that 60 to 70 percent of those affected were from
poor families that consumed unclean water from the river and who
had neither toilets nor clean water sources. (27)