The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned that infectious diseases are expected to be a concern in the areas affected by the two earthquakes in central Maraş within two to four weeks.
In a statement, ECDC said: “Food and waterborne illnesses, respiratory infections and vaccine-preventable infections pose a risk in the coming period, with the potential to trigger outbreaks, especially as survivors move into temporary shelters.
The damaged utility infrastructure, including water and electricity, resulting in limited access to clean water, inadequate sanitation and hygiene services, improper refrigeration and cooking systems, can increase the occurrence and transmission of food and waterborne diseases.”
The statement also said that “a surge in cholera cases in affected areas is a significant possibility in the coming weeks. Cholera is a concern in war-torn northwestern Syria, where authorities have reported thousands of cases as the country tries to contain an outbreak since September 2022. A planned vaccination campaign disrupted by the earthquakes needs to be accelerated.
In addition, other food and/or water-borne diseases can break out in camps: viral infections such as hepatitis A, norovirus and rotavirus, infections caused by parasites or bacterial infections. The availability of clean water and control over food handling are among the most important measures to prevent the spread of these diseases.”
