At least 72 people, mostly children, died from complications of
malnutrition and measles in Asmat, a remote area of the country's
easternmost province. The outbreak prompted health authorities to
send in military paramedics and aid and declare an "extraordinary
outbreak" on Jan. 15.
"We have withdrawn the 'extraordinary outbreak' status because the
trend of affected people is declining," Asmat chief Elisa Kambu said
in a statement published on the health ministry website.
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Around 650 children have contracted measles and at least 223 are
suffering from malnutrition. More than 17,300 children have been
immunized, the statement added.
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"We still need support in Asmat, nurses and doctors," Kambu said.
Some activists and Papuans have blamed the health crisis on neglect
by the central government. Papua is one of Indonesia's poorest areas
and President Joko Widodo, after coming to power in 2014, pledged to
speed up its development.
(Reporting by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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