Although travelling diarrhea has not affected athletes participating in the ongoing 14th Asean Armies Rifle Meet (ARRM) in Cilodong, West Java, all parties need to be aware of the disease as it is categorized as an infectious one, Major dr. Saptadi said here Saturday.

The health officials on duty during the 14th AARM taking place from September 1 to 8, 2004, stay alert round the clock and prepare all medical equipment at a field hospital located near. the gate of the shooting ranges of the Infantry Division I of the Indonesian National Army's Reserve and Strategic Command (Kostrad).The field hospital is ready with surgical operation tools, operation room, ambulances and even a helicopter among other things.

Travelling diarrhea usually affects people who can-not change their eating pat-terns. People including athletes who resort to changing their eating patterns in other countries they visit could also be affected by the disease. Thus, the disease could also attack the athleteswho are taking part in the 14th AARM.We have to understand that every area or country has special foods.

Thus if a person resorts to changing his or her eating pattern in foreign countries, he or she can be affected by travelling diarrhea because of eating certain foods there.Therefore, the foreign athletes who are participating in the 14th AARM should be aware of the disease."Being aware of the disease is necessary but concentration on the event (14th AARM) is also important," Saptadi said.

Meanwhile, Major Sudaryati, an anastesy specialist also at the field hospital shared the same opinion with dr. Saptadi.So far, the doctors at the hospital only found Singaporean athletes affected by travelling diarrheabut they (the doctors) have been in ancipation of further outbreak of the infectious disease.

Internist Nyoto has examined all kinds of foodsand drinks served to theathelets at the 14th AARM."We (the doctors) here have been conducting food screening," dr. Nyoto said. So, a person is affected by travelling diarrhea not because he or she consumes dirty foods or those served by the organizing committee but due to the change of eating pattern So, how can we avert the possible outbreak of the disease? The doctors at the field hospital call on the athletes to always keep their foods clean and eat hygienic foods and drinks.Travelling diarrhea usually affects people in not too long time as they can gradually adjust themselves to the foods and drinks served in other areas or countries they visit for the first time.

However, the athletes should not underestimate the disease.The doctors also call on all the health officials and paramedics to keep monitoring the health condition of all the athletes taking part in the 14th AARM and they must provide maximum services to them (the athletes).

At the 14th AARM, the organizing committee fields 33 health officials and seven doctors (three of theem specialists) to give health services to no less than 450 athletes and officials.About ten patients are treated at the field hospital for different diseases including respiratory problem and diarrhea a day.