MATARAM: Four people have died and more than 1,500 people are seriously ill from an outbreak of diarrhea in East Lombok, from April 26 to May 12, an official said Wednesday.
Head of the infectious diseases prevention division at the pro-vincial health agency Ida Bagus Jelantik, said the areas of the outbreak caused by E.coli bacteria had increased from eight to 14 districts.
"We cooperated with 14 community health centers in the area to help the patients. We also distributed chlorine powder to purify sources of drinking water. Four people died because they were taken to hospital too late," Jelantik said.
He said the outbreak first affected eight out of 20 districts in East Lombok on April 15. The viral infection has currently spread to 14 districts: Labuhan Lombok, Lenek, Belanting, Aikmel, Batuyang, Wanasaba, Swela, Sambelia, Kerongkong, Sembalun, Sikur, Lekong and Kalijaga.
Jelantik said his agency suspected the infection had spread through two rivers flowing between the districts.
"Residents use the river water for cooking, bathing and other daily needs."
Jelantik said the agency recorded 200,000 cases of diarrhea every year in the province, which has a population of 4.2 million.
"Usually, the cases do not occur in such close proximity." - JP
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