we generrally hear about epidemics after any natural disaster. why
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/13/1/06-0779_article.htm
We generally hear about epidemics after natural disasters because
Because epidemics is an inflectional disease that spreads from one person to another at a particular time and place.
Epidemics occurring after natural disasters are often due to the disruption of normal living conditions and infrastructure, which can facilitate the spread of infectious diseases. Here's an explanation of why epidemics tend to occur after natural disasters:
1. Displacement and overcrowding: Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods, often force people to leave their homes and seek temporary shelter in overcrowded facilities, such as evacuation centers or refugee camps. In these crowded and unsanitary conditions, it becomes easier for infectious diseases to spread from person to person.
2. Contaminated water sources: Natural disasters can damage water supply systems, leading to the contamination of drinking water sources. When people are forced to use contaminated water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene, they become susceptible to waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery, and other gastrointestinal infections.
3. Disruption of healthcare services: Natural disasters can severely disrupt healthcare systems, damaging hospitals, clinics, and infrastructure needed to deliver medical care. This disruption limits access to healthcare, making it difficult for affected populations to receive timely medical attention for existing illnesses or to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
4. Increased vector activity: Some natural disasters, such as floods or hurricanes, create breeding grounds for disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes and rodents. These vectors can transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, or hantavirus, leading to epidemics if not controlled.
5. Inadequate sanitation and hygiene: Natural disasters can damage or destroy essential sanitation facilities like toilets and sewage systems. The lack of proper sanitation and limited availability of hygiene resources like soap and clean water increase the risk of infectious diseases spreading through the fecal-oral route or poor personal hygiene practices.
To effectively respond to the risks of epidemics after natural disasters, it is crucial to prioritize rapid emergency response, provide clean water and sanitation facilities, establish temporary healthcare services, and promote hygiene practices among affected populations.