After the massive devastation left by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, there are fears of the spread of infectious and respiratory diseases and germs in the affected areas, especially in the overcrowded camps, which may also spread outside them as a result of the entry of humanitarian teams.
On Saturday, Turkish Health Minister Fakhruddin Koca said that despite the increase in stomach and upper respiratory tract disease cases, the numbers do not pose a serious threat to public health, adding that measures have been taken to monitor and prevent potential diseases.
The minister said at a press conference in Hatay province: “Our priority now is to deal with cases that could threaten public health and prevent infectious diseases,” according to Reuters.
While health organizations in Turkey have warned of the possibility of the spread of epidemics in Kahramanmaraş, which was hit by the earthquake, due to the presence of tens of thousands of people in the camps that do not have electricity, the necessary hygiene measures and healthy water, which increases the possibility of the spread of diseases and epidemics such as cholera and respiratory diseases.
Humanitarian organizations have expressed concern about the spread of the cholera epidemic that has recently emerged in Syria, according to AFP.
Within the framework, the head of the Lebanese Society for Bacterial Diseases, Madonna Matar, indicates in an interview with Al-Hurra that “basically, there is an outbreak of cholera, so that this destruction comes to increase the tragedy,” stressing that it is important in these areas to pay attention to water, its source, food hygiene and everything. What has to do with the germs that cause diarrhea and fever, whether it was cholera or typhoid.”
Matar stresses that “respiratory diseases spread, especially in light of the overcrowding in the camps, and after the destruction that occurred, in addition to the dust caused by the collapse of houses. Polluted air causes fungus, allergies and respiratory diseases.”
And she pointed out, “This is in addition to the fact that people have been displaced, and now they live in overcrowded camps, as viruses become rapidly transmissible and spread.”
Thousands of buildings were completely and partially destroyed as a result of the earthquake, while the infrastructure of the water and sanitation networks in the affected areas was damaged, which increases the risk of the spread of epidemics and infectious diseases such as cholera.
Turkey and Syria earthquake… Physical illnesses and psychological problems may haunt the survivors
After the devastating earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria last week, leaving tens of thousands dead and hundreds of thousands injured, fears are growing of the spread of epidemics and infectious diseases in the stricken areas, at a time when questions are raised about the physical and psychological health of the survivors, and the care and follow-up needed by the earthquake victims.
According to a previous report by AFP, the Turkish medical sector is among the hardest hit because of its dependence on imports, with the collapse of the national currency.
A full range of medicines designed to treat diseases such as diabetes, cancer or even the common cold are no longer available in Turkey’s 27,000 pharmacies. The Turkish lira has lost more than half of its value since the beginning of the year against the dollar. Rather, it has declined sharply since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a “war of economic independence”.
Turkey’s Environment Minister, Murat Corum, has previously said that more than 84,000 buildings collapsed, had to be demolished quickly, or were badly damaged in the quake. And in Antioch, which is a crossroads of several civilizations and is one of the areas most affected by the earthquake. The city has experienced several earthquakes – one every 100 years – and its reconstruction is not surprising, according to AFP.
