Threat Of Health Epidemic Looms After Quake, Tsunamis
Official: Death Toll Could Double Due To Disease
POSTED: 7:57 am PST December 28, 2004
UPDATED: 11:35 am PST December 28, 2004
A new killer could emerge from the debris and unburied bodies of Sunday's monster earthquake and waves: health epidemics.
The aftermath of the disaster includes a spectacle of filth and looming disease. Decaying bodies, people relieving themselves in the open and polluted water are just a few of the problems. A World Health Organization official warned that the massive loss of life from the South Asia quake may just be the beginning. David Nabarro, the WHO's chief of crisis operations, said the death toll could double due to the risk of disease -- diseases that come with the lack of clean water and sanitation.Nabarro predicted the "initial terror" from the weekend's disaster could be "dwarfed by the longer-term suffering" that disease could bring."Hundreds of thousands of people fought to survive the tsunamis on Sunday. Now we need to help them survive the aftermath," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. "We're concerned about providing safe water, which is urgent in all these countries, and about preventing the spread of disease. For children, the next few days will be the most critical." A microbiologist in India said the risk of epidemics is very high because the decaying bodies are "bacteria factories." In India alone, hundreds of bodies lie in the streets and on beaches. Steve Aswin of UNICEF said the bodies of the dead should simply be buried in mass graves, but there is often no one to do it. UNICEF said it's concerned about the possible spread of waterborne diseases and is sending anti-diarrhea medicine in its aid shipments."Safe drinking water is crucial at this juncture," Bellamy said. "Where the flooding was the worst, local water supplies are contaminated and damaged. Without safe water, people will start drinking from unclean sources, and that will lead to disease. This is our No. 1 concern at the moment."Land mines also pose an added risk in Sri Lanka, according to UNICEF."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 Ted Chaiban, speaking from the UNICEF office in Colombo. "The greatest danger to civilians will come when they begin to return to their homes, not knowing where the mines are."
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Full Story: Latest On Tsunami Aftermath
Interactives: Tsunami Map | EarthquakesInfo: Fact Sheet, Relief AgenciesThe aftermath of the disaster includes a spectacle of filth and looming disease. Decaying bodies, people relieving themselves in the open and polluted water are just a few of the problems. A World Health Organization official warned that the massive loss of life from the South Asia quake may just be the beginning. David Nabarro, the WHO's chief of crisis operations, said the death toll could double due to the risk of disease -- diseases that come with the lack of clean water and sanitation.Nabarro predicted the "initial terror" from the weekend's disaster could be "dwarfed by the longer-term suffering" that disease could bring."Hundreds of thousands of people fought to survive the tsunamis on Sunday. Now we need to help them survive the aftermath," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. "We're concerned about providing safe water, which is urgent in all these countries, and about preventing the spread of disease. For children, the next few days will be the most critical." A microbiologist in India said the risk of epidemics is very high because the decaying bodies are "bacteria factories." In India alone, hundreds of bodies lie in the streets and on beaches. Steve Aswin of UNICEF said the bodies of the dead should simply be buried in mass graves, but there is often no one to do it. UNICEF said it's concerned about the possible spread of waterborne diseases and is sending anti-diarrhea medicine in its aid shipments."Safe drinking water is crucial at this juncture," Bellamy said. "Where the flooding was the worst, local water supplies are contaminated and damaged. Without safe water, people will start drinking from unclean sources, and that will lead to disease. This is our No. 1 concern at the moment."Land mines also pose an added risk in Sri Lanka, according to UNICEF."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 Ted Chaiban, speaking from the UNICEF office in Colombo. "The greatest danger to civilians will come when they begin to return to their homes, not knowing where the mines are."
Want To Help? Relief Agencies Accepting ContributionsMore Information: Latest UNICEF News | WHO Updates Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
