Health problems mount in Delta; 'second wave' of deaths feared

by Solomon

Sunday, 11 May 2008 17:36

New Delhi – Infected wounds and diarrhea are emerging as the leading health problems in cyclone-hit regions of Burma. And aid workers fear a "second wave" of deaths from diseases like cholera and typhoid could send the death toll from Cyclone Nargis soaring if more aid doesn't reach survivors soon. "A lot of people got wounded," said Dr. Frank Smithuis, of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) from Rangoon. "These wounds got infected. That is half the patients." Many of the survivors were lashed by debris during the storm, their skin left torn and peeling. Other patients face a variety of illnesses, Smithuis said, from diarrhea to asthma. Many of the severest problems come from contaminated water supplies. Survivors are drinking dirty water polluted with human and animal waste. "What we are seeing in many, many communities are high rates – around 20 percent – of diarrhea," said Shantha Bloemen, spokeswoman for Unicef. Aid groups are distributing water purification tablets and bringing in water pumps and other equipment. Unicef has distributed 3 million tablets. Other diseases that could emerge include malaria, dengue fever, typhoid and cholera, said World Vision spokesman James East. "It is possible more people can die yet," East said. "It means it's important we get in assistance quickly." World Vision was putting up water tanks and putting down lime – a disinfectant –in the camps to keep down the spread of disease. Food, water, shelter and medical supplies were the most important needs.  The flow of international aid appeared ready to pick up, but military-ruled Burma was granting few visas to foreign disaster experts. MSF has been working in Burma since 1992 and dispatched more than 100 staff to the southwestern part of the Irrawaddy Delta, where tens of thousands perished and more than a million are homeless or in need of care. Only local staff were allowed to disaster sites, Smithuis said. MSF was distributing 25,000 plastic sheets for temporary shelters and 150,000 kg of rice. < Prev   Next >