haiti earthquake victim

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 21:53:10 UTC , world shocked by earthquake disaster that occurred in Haiti magnitude 7.3 on the  scale of  richter. Haiti earthquake has claimed 200,000 lives and destroyed hundreds of physical buildings.  Material losses hasn’t  been established,  thousands civil society are still displaced in camps provided by volunteers and the government.

Last few years, the world was shocked more  earthquake. Such as in Indonesia, In the last five years recorded earthquake in Aceh, Nias, Mentawai, Yogyakarta, Tasikmalaya, and the last is the earthquake in Padang – West Sumatra and Jambi.

Natural disasters, like earthquakes, often accompanied  disease outbreaks or epidemics. This condition is triggered by the body aren’t immediately buried or refugee camps aren’t hygienic. Destruction of public facilities, such as public toilets, septic tanks, sewage waste, wells, garbage disposal, clean water, require “Emergency response” which is handling temporary.  Therefore, in these conditions is needed programs and facilities that are practicaly and optimal.

A few days after the earthquake in various diseases began to threaten the refugees. Without serious treatment, this condition can aggravate the suffering of victims. In fact, lead to a new victim. Onset of illness until death. Therefore, along with emergency response program priorities that must be considered is the environmental response. Namely the efforts made to deal with environmental problems after the disaster.

Various infectious diseases that need to be aware and in anticipation post-earthquake is (according to: DR.Umar Zein)

1. Tetanus

Tetanus disease is one of the dangerous infections that affect the nervous system and muscles. Tetanus word derived from the Greek language from tetanos which means teinein tense. This disease is infectious disease characterized by muscle cramps (spasms) and increased tonic reflex (hiperrefleksia) occurs causing stiffness in the jaw and difficulty opening the mouth (trismus = lockjaw). Muscle cramps may occur completely, curved spines (opistotonus), and in severe circumstances can occur spasm of acute airway obstruction that causes deaths.

Muscle stiffness caused neurotoksin (tetanospasmin) issued by the bacterium Clostridium tetani which are common in contaminated soil and enter the body through a dirty wounds. Clostridium tetani bacteria are commonly found in soil, human excrement and pets and in agricultural areas. Place of entry of these germs can be scars in the tissue damage associated with local, foreign body embedded with soil contamination, superficial abrasions and minor abrasions or wounds contaminated with dirt, trauma to the hands or legs associated with fractures and injuries in surgery .

Moreover, the wounded who did not quickly get help from the difficulty of evacuation. In the event an earthquake in Padang, the health department has sent about 2,500 vials of vaccine to prevent tetanus. This amount is still not enough, seeing the thousands of victims and for volunteers to evacuate, should also be given toxoid vaccine for prevention.

2. Diarrhea and Cholera

Diarrhea is watery bowel movements with a frequency of more than 2 times a day caused by the inability of the large intestine absorbs water from the feces produced. The main cause of post-earthquake is a bacterial infection through food and beverages.

Earthquake location must be sprayed disinfectant and insecticide to prevent the spread of diarrhea and cholera after the earthquake. The bodies of humans and animals that have not been able to evacuate a source of germs. Crumbling buildings and spread odor attract animals that have the potential to spread diseases such as flies or mosquitoes.

Flies, can be landed on the corpse or carcass, and then wandered the potential to spread germs causing diarrhea or cholera. Diarrhea caused by bacteria that stick to the food, water, and unclean hands.

Diarrhea is also associated with environmental hygiene in temporary refugee camps that are not guaranteed due to waste disposal facilities and toilets are not adequate.

3. ARI(Acute Respiratory Tract Infection)

ARI is the largest disease at the earthquake refugees living in tents or temporary shelters. One cause of respiratory infection is the density of residential people living in a room, so it’s easy penularaan occur through the air.

The number of floating dust, the increased rainfall and cold at night accelerate the spread of respiratory infection. Always keep the body warm, wearing a mask around the refugee camps need to avoid this disease.

Respiratory disease can be categorized into two types namely those caused by viruses (including influenza) and bacteria. The main symptoms are fever, cough or runny nose.

Respiratory disease if not treated quickly can be a severe complication of infection with lower respiratory tract or pneumonia is accompanied by shortness of breath treatment and recovery will take quite a long time and can cause death. Complications are more apt to occur in the elderly, infants and toddlers with the immune system decreases.

4. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Chikungunya

Case of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever disease and increased risk for Chikungunya many puddles everywhere in the ruins of buildings that become breeding grounds of mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and albopictus.

Handling pascagempa environment can not be done immediately because of the difficult field conditions. Fogging efforts are important for prevention because it can reduce the adult mosquito populations that transmit. The main symptoms are fever, followed by red spots on the skin redness or rash. In Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever heavy bleeding and shock that can cause death. In Chikungnya, joint pain the most prominent, and not cause death.

5. Measles and Chicken Pox

Measles and Chicken Pox is a contagious infectious disease caused by a type of potentially infectious virus pascagempa, particularly in children and adolescents. But adults may be also affected. Early symptoms are fever, cough, runny nose, followed by the appearance of a rash on the skin. In measles, accompanied by red and sore eyes and rashes tengorokan that arise in the form of small red spots begin in the neck and face area, then spreading throughout the body.

Complications can occur when a weak immune system, infection of the lungs and brain. In Chickenpox, rash bigger and filled with fluid (vesicles) which originally appeared in the body, and then be extended throughout the body. Complications are secondary infections of the skin. Both diseases can be prevented by immunization.

Anticipation

Given the complexity of the problem after the earthquake, emergency response programs must be well coordinated and planned in one area. Sanitation and environmental hygiene at evacuation locations that are less well maintained, is a trigger factor against many types of disease. Indeed, to create environmental cleanliness and good sanitation in the evacuation location is not as easy as the previous normal condition.

Health problems that should be a priority and anticipated in the handling of earthquake victims is a matter of nutrition, both basic food and baby milk and children.

Trauma heat and rain during the evacuation should be anticipated with the construction of a proper emergency tents and the provision of clothing and blankets are enough to avoid the cold air.

In the evacuation, when acquired infectious disease, like measles, chicken pox, or diarrhea, should be separated from the group of refugees by inpatient at the hospital. When the evacuation of the affected existing infectious diseases like measles, health institutions, such as the Health Center or the Public Health Service, must immediately make mass immunization in the area.

The general public is not affected by the disaster, and volunteers contribute greatly to bringing food and drink Fast food, instant food, baby milk, mineral water, clothes, blankets, plastic sleeping mats and roofing, clothing, or drugs.

Suvailans epidemiology should be done to anticipate before the rampant cases of infectious diseases in the area of earthquake locations. So far, based on data from the Ministry of Health has approximately 3000 health workers were deployed to disaster sites.

Practical steps that could be earthquake-affected communities to prevent the arrival of the disease, namely by keeping the environment clean with the help and attention from various parties.

In addition, attention to hygiene and health food and drinks. Therefore, foods and beverages that are not clean and healthy is not going to cause many diseases. Moreover, the body condition of people living in refugee camps in the state are generally relatively weak, both physically and psychologically.

For  you who want to participate to help our brothers in Haiti can donate some of your money Here. You also can get full info the  Haiti earthquake in this link.

location of haiti earthquake