WHO warns of Syria disease threat
Medical facilities are often basic in rebel-held areas
The
World Health Organization is warning of an increased risk of disease
epidemics in Syria and neighbouring countries as summer approaches.
The WHO says outbreaks of diseases carried in water -
specifically hepatitis, typhoid, cholera and dysentery - are inevitable,
given the severe disruption to Syria's health system. Cases of diarrhoea and hepatitis-A have more than doubled since January.
There have also been outbreaks of measles and typhoid.
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Dr Jaouad Mahjour Department for communicable diseases, WHO's regional office for the Eastern MediterraneanWe are anticipating a number of public health risks from water-borne diseases, specifically hepatitis, typhoid, cholera and dysentery”
According to the WHO, at least
35% of the country's public hospitals are out of service, and in some
areas, up to 70% of the health workforce has fled.
Almost 4.25 million Syrians who have had to leave their homes
are living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, with concerns about
the provision of safe drinking water and safe sanitation."All the risk factors that enhance the transmission of communicable diseases in emergencies are present in the current crisis in Syria and its neighbouring countries," said Dr Jaouad Mahjour, director of the department for communicable diseases at the WHO's regional office for the Eastern Mediterranean.
"We are anticipating a number of public health risks from water-borne diseases, specifically hepatitis, typhoid, cholera and dysentery.
"Given the scale of population movement both inside Syria and across borders, together with deteriorating environmental health conditions, outbreaks are inevitable."
Vaccination problems The WHO says cases of measles have reappeared in Syria, due to problems running national vaccination campaigns.
The number of confirmed cases of measles in the first quarter of 2013 reached 139, compared with no cases in the whole of 2010 and 2011, says the WHO.
There have also been reports of measles, tuberculosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis - a disease carried by insects - among displaced Syrians in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey.
"Jordan had previously reported zero cases of measles for three years, and was planning to officially declare that it was measles-free," said Dr Mahjour.
"The situation will deteriorate if prevention and control measures are not scaled up soon."
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