Dozens of Diarrhea Patients in Pesisir Selatan Treated, Unlicensed Gallon Water Depot Highlighted

Some mass diarrhea patients in Pesisir Selatan consume mineral water from unlicensed refill gallon water depots.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

A mother takes care of her toddler, a patient of an extraordinary event of diarrhea, on an emergency bed in the hallway of the children's ward at Dr. Muhammad Zein Painan Regional General Hospital in Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra, on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

SOUTH COAST, KOMPAS — Dozens of patients with extraordinary events diarrhea in the Regency Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatra, is still being treated at a number of health facilities. POM Padang Center highlights the proliferation of unlicensed gallon water depots which are the source of drinking water for some diarrhea patients.

Acting Head of the Pesisir Selatan Health Department, Intan Novia Fatma Nanda, said that the number of cases in the diarrhea outbreak in this district has reached 202 cases, as of Wednesday morning (8/5/2024). 58 percent of the patients in this mass diarrhea case were toddlers or between the ages of 0-5 years old.

"There are 202 cases, consisting of 123 recovered individuals, 5 toddler deaths, 31 inpatient cases at the Surantih Health Center, 16 inpatient cases at M Zein Painan Hospital, 12 inpatient cases at BKM Hospital, and the rest are receiving outpatient treatment," said Intan.

Also read: Hundreds of Residents Experience Mass Diarrhea on the South Coast, Four People Die

According to Intan, the cases are spread across three districts, namely Sutera, IV Jurai, and Bayang. The most cases were found in Sutera District, especially in Taratak Village, Lansano, Rawang, and Pasa Surantiah.

Cases began to be discovered on April 21. The highest number of findings was on May 4 with 28 cases. This increase was in line with health service officers increasing their sweeping at homes.

"Many residents, especially infants and toddlers, have already experienced severe dehydration but are not taken by their families to healthcare facilities," said Intan.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

The provision of mineral water to toddler patients during the extraordinary diarrheal outbreak (KLB) in the emergency ward of the children's ward at RSUD Dr. Muhammad Zein Painan, in Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra, on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

According to Kompas's monitoring at Dr Muhammad Zein Painan Regional Hospital, Wednesday afternoon, there were dozens of toddlers with diarrhea who were being treated in the pediatric ward. Patients come and go one after another. Of that number, there are six toddlers who are being treated with emergency beds in the playroom or children's ward hallway because the treatment room is full.

"My child was referred here (on Tuesday, 7/5/2024) last night. Two days prior, he was treated at Surantiah Community Health Center. The health center allowed him to go home, but then he vomited again, accompanied by diarrhea," said Kamarlis (42), the father of patient Syafiq (2), who is being treated in the hallway of the children's ward at RSUD Dr. Muhammad Zein Painan.

The Head of Medical Services Department at Dr. Muhammad Zein Painan Al Laily Fitri Regional General Hospital stated that on Wednesday afternoon, a total of 24 outbreak patients with diarrhea were being treated in the hospital, consisting of 18 toddlers and 6 adults. "This Wednesday morning, there were a total of 28 toddler patients (with diarrhea outbreak) being treated. In the afternoon, 11 people were discharged and 1 person was admitted," he said.

Also read: Poisoning of 30 Elementary School Students in Padang Triggered by Pathogenic Bacteria in Food

According to Laily, the number of patients with diarrhea outbreaks referred to RSUD Dr. M Zein has started to decrease and the number of emergency bedridden patients has also decreased. The peak occurred on Saturday (5/4/2024) and Sunday (5/5/2024) last week.

"The situation has improved. Those who come from the community health center on average experience mild to moderate dehydration. The peak was last Saturday-Sunday, with 7-8 patients per day. Eventually, some were treated in emergency beds in the main room and children's ward corridors. However, it has now decreased," he said.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

The atmosphere in one of the treatment rooms for toddler patients during an extraordinary diarrhea outbreak in the pediatric ward of RSUD Dr. Muhammad Zein Painan hospital, in South Pesisir Regency, West Sumatra, on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

Contaminated water sources

Intan explained that mass diarrhea was thought to have occurred because residents' water sources were contaminated by Escherichia coli (E coli) bacteria which came from feces. So far, some local residents have had the habit of drinking water without boiling it.

"Pessel experienced floods and landslides on March 7-8. The Sutera sub-district was the most severely affected. There are suspicions that the water quality may have been contaminated due to the impact of the disaster," he said.

Regarding the source of the water, according to Intan, based on the distribution map, residents use spring water that is distributed to refillable gallon water depots. The source comes from the Pincuran Langit and Ampalu springs in Sutera District.

"Based on analysis and interviews with patients, 102 cases used drinking water sources from a depot that were not boiled beforehand, 71 cases used the Pincuran Langit natural spring directly, and 6 cases used the Ampalu natural spring," he said.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

A doctor is examining the condition of a toddler patient affected by an extraordinary incident (outbreak) of diarrhea at the children's ward of RSUD Dr. Muhammad Zein Painan Hospital in Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra, on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

Intan added that her team consistently provides education for residents to use boiled water for consumption. Health officials also search for diarrheal patients who remain untreated at home. Further examination of water and fecal samples is also conducted.

"We hope that people will really comply with boiling the water until it is completely cooked so that this epidemic will end soon," he said.

Beben (31), the father of 20-month-old M Atter who is suffering from diarrhea, said that his family's source of water comes from a well and a refillable gallon water depot. Specifically for the gallon water, he admitted to drinking it directly without boiling it because he felt it was already hygienic. However, he and his wife give their child well-cooked well water. "We don't know the source yet," he said.

Beben's only son can now return home after being treated at the Dr. M Zein Painan Regional Hospital last Sunday. Prior to this, his child suddenly experienced vomiting. "From morning until night, our child was fine, actively playing ball. Because he was thirsty, he was given a drink, then vomited and had diarrhea," said a resident of Sutera District.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

Residents pass by around a house destroyed by flash floods in Batu Bala Village, Nagari Ganting, Mudiak Utara Surantih, Sutera District, Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra on Tuesday (12/3/2024).

Unlicensed depot

Separately, the Head of the Padang POM Center, Abdul Rahim, stated that the examination of suspected water samples as the source of the diarrhea outbreak is still ongoing since Monday (5/6/2024) yesterday. The examination is taking place for a week. Previously, officials took water samples from various sources, including refilled gallon water depots.

They should test water quality in the laboratory regularly, every three months, every six months, something like that.

Rahim also highlighted the widespread, illegal refillable water gallon depots that some patients with diarrhea outbreaks use, which are not licensed by the health department. Because they are unlicensed, these depots do not undergo regular quality testing of their water.

"They should routinely test the water quality in laboratories, every three months, every six months, something like that. So, maybe, that's one of the causes," said Rahim.

Next, according to Rahim, the hygiene habits of the community around the location are relatively poor. There are water sources that are directly taken from mountains/hills, collected in gallons, then some are directly sold to the community, and some of the gallons are already covered in moss.

"Meaning, poor hygiene practices. Meanwhile, the area just experienced flooding (on March 7-8). It is possible that the water source is contaminated. Floods sometimes carry dead animals, so it has the potential to be contaminated with bacteria. If consumed by children, it could lead to diarrhea, dehydration, and even death," he said.