Author:
Philstar Editorial (October 6, 2009)
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Date Posted: Tue, Oct 06 2009
With floodwaters not receding in communities around Laguna de Bay and other areas still under a few centimeters of water, authorities should prepare for the next likely problem: disease outbreaks. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable and require special attention.
Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and dengue was already a problem even before “Ondoy” brought torrential rains to Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. From January to May this year, 8,442 dengue cases had been recorded nationwide by the Department of Health, with 62 fatalities. Though the number was lower than the 16,276 cases recorded in the same period last year, the risks remain great.
Health experts have warned that dengue is more prevalent than the A(H1N1) flu – another illness that could spread in the wake of a devastating typhoon, especially in crowded evacuation centers. The common flu could also spread quickly in cramped quarters.
Another risk is leptospirosis, a potentially fatal affliction contracted when an open wound or break in the skin comes in contact with urine usually of mice and rodents, although other animals such as dogs can serve as secondary hosts. The urine can be carried by floodwaters, and people wading through floods must use rubber boots. Dogs and other pets can also be infected by the disease-causing bacteria.
Water supply has been disrupted in many of the typhoon-stricken areas, and the lack of safe drinking water could cause a host of infections. Health authorities must be prepared for outbreaks of water-borne diseases, from common diarrhea to typhoid. Damaged sewerage systems and the mounting piles of garbage could lead to cholera.
Respiratory illnesses, allergies
and skin diseases could develop as stagnant floodwaters turn into breeding grounds for disease-causing organisms. The government was not prepared for the fury of Ondoy. But it is aware of the emerging health risks, and should be ready to prevent a health crisis.
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