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Post-flood--infectious diseases in Mozambique
Hisayoshi Kondo1, Norimasa Seo, Tadashi Yasuda
1Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nippon Medical School. kondou@nirs.go.jp
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
|March 12, 2003
Summary
Following a flood disaster in Mozambique, infectious diseases like malaria and diarrhea significantly increased, alongside a rise in water-borne disease risks. This highlights the critical need for infectious disease management in post-flood relief efforts.
Area of Science:
- Disaster Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Flood disasters create conditions conducive to water-borne and vector-borne disease transmission.
- Effective disaster relief necessitates addressing the prevalence of infectious diseases.
- The Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team was deployed to Mozambique following severe floods in 2000.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiological impact of a flood disaster on infectious disease patterns.
- To assess the health status and risks faced by flood victims.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of medical relief in a disaster setting.
Main Methods:
- An epidemiological study was conducted in the heavily impacted Hokwe area.
- Data collection involved reviewing medical records, interviewing residents and evacuees, and analyzing water quality.
- A total of 2,611 patients were treated over a nine-day period.
Main Results:
- Infectious diseases accounted for 85% of all treated patients, with malaria, respiratory infections, and diarrhea being predominant.
- Malaria incidence rose significantly (4-5 times higher than normal), and drinking water quality declined.
- No major outbreaks of cholera or dysentery were reported, but self-reported health levels decreased.
Conclusions:
- Flood events lead to an increased incidence of endemic infectious diseases, particularly malaria and diarrhea.
- Factors such as population density, food shortages, and contaminated water heighten infectious disease risks post-flood.
- Findings confirm the potential for increased transmission of water-borne diseases and endemic illnesses after floods.