Disease threatens millions in wake of tsunami
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《英国医生杂志》
With a confirmed death toll of almost 150 000, the earthquake that devastated countries bordering the Indian Ocean on 26 December is one of the worst natural disasters in living memory, prompting the biggest peace time aid operation in history.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, "Latest estimated deaths are over 146 000 (anticipated to rise to over 185 000), with over 525 000 injured, over 20 000 missing, close to 1.6 million displaced, and over 1 million estimated homeless.".
A woman sits among the debris of her destroyed home in the town of Hambantota, about 200 km south of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Credit: DENNIS M SABANGAN/EPA/EMPICS
Although the major impact was felt by India, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, several other countries have been affected: Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand in Asia; and Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania in Africa.
Dr Lee Jong-wook, director general of the World Health Organization, said: "This is the most serious natural disaster to affect the region for several decades. The health needs of the populations affected are immediate and substantial."
Although by 3 January WHO had received no reports of major epidemics, the organisation warned: "Millions of people are now under serious threat of disease outbreaks as a result of damaged water and sanitation systems, sea water contamination, and the congested and crowded conditions of the displaced.
"There is an immediate increased risk of waterborne diseases—that is, cholera, typhoid fever, shigellosis, and hepatitis A and E—related to unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation. Outbreaks of these diseases could occur at any moment."
WHO emphasised that ensuring uninterrupted provision of safe drinking water was the most important preventive measure to be implemented after flooding, but it listed other important steps that had to be taken.
"The use of standard treatment protocols in health facilities with agreed upon first line drugs is also crucial to ensure effective diagnosis and treatment for acute respiratory infections, malaria, sexually transmitted infections and for the main epidemic-prone diseases (including cholera, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, dengue, leptospirosis, measles, meningitis)," it said.
It cautioned: "Logistical matters, including transport, accommodation, and communications, are posing serious challenges to any relief efforts."
Operations in the two worst affected areas, Indonesia's Aceh province and Sri Lanka, have been further hampered by both monsoon floods and simmering internal conflicts, and in Sri Lanka the United Nations has warned that landmines pose a serious hazard to displaced people and an obstacle to relief efforts.
"Mines were floated by the floods and washed out of known mine fields, so now we don't know where they are, and the warning signs on mined areas have been swept away or destroyed," said Unicef.(Peter Moszynski)
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, "Latest estimated deaths are over 146 000 (anticipated to rise to over 185 000), with over 525 000 injured, over 20 000 missing, close to 1.6 million displaced, and over 1 million estimated homeless.".
A woman sits among the debris of her destroyed home in the town of Hambantota, about 200 km south of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Credit: DENNIS M SABANGAN/EPA/EMPICS
Although the major impact was felt by India, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, several other countries have been affected: Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand in Asia; and Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania in Africa.
Dr Lee Jong-wook, director general of the World Health Organization, said: "This is the most serious natural disaster to affect the region for several decades. The health needs of the populations affected are immediate and substantial."
Although by 3 January WHO had received no reports of major epidemics, the organisation warned: "Millions of people are now under serious threat of disease outbreaks as a result of damaged water and sanitation systems, sea water contamination, and the congested and crowded conditions of the displaced.
"There is an immediate increased risk of waterborne diseases—that is, cholera, typhoid fever, shigellosis, and hepatitis A and E—related to unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation. Outbreaks of these diseases could occur at any moment."
WHO emphasised that ensuring uninterrupted provision of safe drinking water was the most important preventive measure to be implemented after flooding, but it listed other important steps that had to be taken.
"The use of standard treatment protocols in health facilities with agreed upon first line drugs is also crucial to ensure effective diagnosis and treatment for acute respiratory infections, malaria, sexually transmitted infections and for the main epidemic-prone diseases (including cholera, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, dengue, leptospirosis, measles, meningitis)," it said.
It cautioned: "Logistical matters, including transport, accommodation, and communications, are posing serious challenges to any relief efforts."
Operations in the two worst affected areas, Indonesia's Aceh province and Sri Lanka, have been further hampered by both monsoon floods and simmering internal conflicts, and in Sri Lanka the United Nations has warned that landmines pose a serious hazard to displaced people and an obstacle to relief efforts.
"Mines were floated by the floods and washed out of known mine fields, so now we don't know where they are, and the warning signs on mined areas have been swept away or destroyed," said Unicef.(Peter Moszynski)