As another storm nears, disease outbreak fears grow in the Philippines
Philippines, Oct 02, 2009
After Tropical Storm Ketsana struck the Philippine capital, Manila, and neighboring areas of Luzon island on Saturday (September 26), at least 280 are confirmed dead, 676,000 have been displaced and over 3 million have been affected, according to the Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council's (NDCC) update on Thursday (October 1). The storm caused Manila to endure the heaviest rain in more than 40 years, and its worst flooding in decades. As filthy water blankets large areas of the capital and bodies lay in coffins next to survivors at evacuation centers, health authorities and aid agencies are warning of possible disease outbreaks that could escalate the situation. The Philippine's Department of Health (DoH) on Monday (September 28) warned of an outbreak of water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, dengue fever, measles, leptospirosis and even the influenza A (H1N1) virus in flooded areas, if a potable water supply does not become available and if basic personal hygiene is not exercised, the Filipino Global Community Web Site Philstar.com reported. Dr. Melissa Guerrero, chief aide to the health secretary, was quoted by the Agence France-Presse (AFP) as saying, "Now that you have a breakdown in your water and sanitation facilities and evacuation sites, the transmission of diseases will be faster." Flooding has also been the hindrance of other healthcare efforts at four hospitals, as it interrupted electrical power or forced more evacuation of patients, Health Secretary Francisco Duque told the AFP. Typhoon Parma has been gathering strength, the UN Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) reported on Thursday, and is forecast to hit northern Luzon Island anytime between 1 and 2 October, bringing heavy rains that could result in more flooding and more suffering to those already displaced. As the storm approaches, authorities are desperately short of food, medicine, clean water and medics, and many national appeals for help were launched on Monday. Philippine National Red Cross secretary-general, Gwendolyn Pang, had urged doctors on Monday (September 27) to volunteer their services and appealed to the public to donate cleaning items, as well as bottled water for drinking, to help create "hygiene kits."
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