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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Over 88 residents of Madaba governorate, southwest of Amman, suffered from diarrhea and gastrointestinal infection symptoms in the past week, a medical source said.

The number of patients suffering from the symptoms went up to 88 in the town of Malih, about 30 kilometers southwest of Amman. The patients range in age between 6 years old and 60.

Madaba Health Director Dr. Khalid Khreisha told Ammon News that a medical team was formed to probe the cause of the illnesses, and is monitoring the town, taking samples of public water utilities and food sources at restaurants and shops.

Khreisha said that initial results revealed that the main water sources in the town are unpolluted and safe for consumption.

He noted that diagnosis of several patients revealed that they suffer from Amoebiasis, a gastrointestinal infection caused by the ammoeba parasite present in the intestines, commonly transmitted through flies, and spreads wide in unsanitary conditions.

The infection may also be caused by consuming unwashed fruits and vegetables, polluted water, and unsanitary hands.

Khreisha told Ammon News that residents in Malih possibly consumed unwashed fruits and vegetables bought from mobile vendors.

The patients are recovering from mild to medium-severe cases, usually requiring about a week to fully recover, Khreisha added.

The Ministry of Health continually conducts awareness campaigns for citizens on the prevention of the spread of infections, including measures such as regularly washing hands thoroughly with soap, and avoiding raw and unwashed vegetables, boiling water or treating it with iodine tablets, and avoiding eating street foods especially in summer hot conditions.