Map showing the province of Papua, Indonesia.
A large number of children, many below the age of seven, have died of an unexplained disease in Mbuwa district, Nduga regency, Papua, following the start of the rainy season in early November.
A medical team consisting of health workers from Nduga, Wamena and Jayawijaya regencies arrived at the location but have yet to ascertain the cause of the deaths.
"As many as 41 children have died, as of today. They present with a slight illness at first but die shortly after these initial signs. The medical team from Nduga Health Office, assisted by the Wamena Health Office may have returned home, but the
cause of these deaths remains uncertain," said Mbuwa district chief Erias Gwijangge, during a call to
The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Erias said Nduga and surrounding areas had experienced drought and
were exposed to haze from forest fires. Rain only fell in the past month.
When the rain began, a number of livestock, such as pigs and poultry, also died abruptly.
"Many of the children died prior to the livestock but there was no report of child fatalities, only in the last three days," said Erias.
When contacted by the Post, Wamena City community health clinic analysis member Yan Hubi, who joined the trip to Mbuwa district, said his clinic analyzed blood samples of the children to find out if the children had been infected by malaria, but all were negative.
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