Toxic bacteria blamed for mysterious Indonesian deaths

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2007

JAKARTA (AFP) — Toxic bacteria in a local delicacy most likely killed 10 Indonesians who died mysteriously last month in a village on the densely-populated island of Java, a senior health official said Wednesday.

The deadly illness, which has also sickened 23 others in Kanigoro village in Central Java's Magelang district since July 22, has puzzled authorities and caused panicky villagers to flee the area.

Almost all of the victims had eaten a cheap local dish made from fermented soybean residue that was sold by a street vendor on July 21, said I Nyoman Kandun, the health ministry's director-general for contagious disease control.

"There are indications that the victims died from a toxin, and it is strongly believed that the toxin was bongkrekic acid,...