Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – A dysentery outbreak has killed dozens of local residents in the remote Papuan regency of Puncak Jaya in the past two months, a reverend said Thursday.

"Dozens are reported to have died in the outbreak between December and January after coming down with dysentery," Seblum Karubaba, chairman of Kemah Injil Church Synod, told The Jakarta in Jayapura.

Coordinator of the Papua Health Crisis Center Paminto Widodo, however, said he had not received any information or exact data about Seblum's claims.

"We will soon deploy representatives to the site, even though it is difficult to reach the area. But now there is a doctor – Dr. Mery – who has been stationed at Mulia public hospital in Puncak Jaya," he said.

Seblum said he received the information about the deaths from the chairman of Ilaga Barat parish Rev. Martinus Magai and spiritual adviser Daniel Lalong.

"Three days ago, on Dec. 31, they came to meet me to report their activities at their parish and at the same time revealed more about the disease outbreak," he said.

"A retreat for women scheduled for Jan. 8 to Jan. 11 was postponed until next April because the participants were in mourning for the dead." He said the men told him that up to five people died in one kampong in a day, spreading fear in nearby Ilaga Barat and Ilaga Timur parishes.

"Incessant rainfall for days led to the outbreak, where local residents frequently had bloody diarrhea before they died," Seblum said. He added he would send a letter of complaint to the regional authorities about their negligence in not handling the outbreak.

He said the reported deaths showed the government was not serious in giving adequate services to residents in remote areas. "The public's money has not been properly utilized to empower them," he said.

Paminto explained he knew nothing of the incident. "No extraordinary incident was reported. One or two deaths in one day is still unexceptional. But we'll await accurate data from our health officials," he said.

Ilaga district is accessible in 45 minutes by Cessna or Twin Otter airplanes from Wamena, but it takes only 25 minutes from Mulia. Puncak Jaya Regent Elieser Renmaur and health officials are currently visiting Ilaga district to ascertain the extent of the outbreak.