David Batty, The Guardian, Friday May 9 2008 (This article appeared in the Guardian on Friday May 09 2008 on p21 of the International section. It was last updated at 00:41 on May 09 2008 )
What is the main health risk after the cyclone? The primary risk following the flooding of the delta region is the outbreak of diseases spread by contaminated water, such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid. Aid agencies on the ground report that flooding and broken pipes have allowed sewage, toxins and groundwater into the water supply. Lakes, rice paddies and streams are also dirty because they are littered with corpses. Stagnant water is providing a breeding ground for bacteria and mosquitoes. According to Save the Children, more than a third of deaths in previous similar disasters have been caused by waterborne diseases. (….)
Sanitation Updates 