EU warns against outbreak of infectious diseases in Syria, Turkey
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The European Union (EU) warned on Monday against viral spread of food and water-borne diseases, respiratory infections, and vaccine-preventable infections in the coming weeks in areas impacted by earthquakes.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that the damaged utility infrastructure may increase the occurrence and transmission of food-and waterborne diseases.
At dawn on Feb. 6, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Syria and Turkey, killing more than 44.000 and injuring many more, in addition to destroying thousands of buildings in both countries.
In the evening of Feb. 20, two earthquakes hit Turkey’s Hatay Province, measuring 6.4 and 5.8 on Richter scale. The earthquakes, especially the first one, damaged northwest Syria and was felt in all of the country.
Cholera outbreak in camps that shelter those who were affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey is possible in the following weeks, according to the ECDC.
This worsens matters in Syria, as the country has been witnessing a cholera outbreak since late 2022, where the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recorded 100 deaths of cholera in Syria on January 17.
On Oct. 26, 2022, the OCHA said, “Millions of people across Syria lack reliable access to sufficient and safe water.”
Cleaning water and food is a must to avoid the spread of those diseases, according to the EU.
The risk of outbreaks increases as survivors are moving to shelters, where “crowding cannot be avoided,” the ECDC added.
The EU also warned that COVID-19, seasonal influenza and vaccine-preventable diseases may take place.
The EU urged the necessity of providing access to healthcare, shelter, potable water, and adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities in order to alleviate the risk of infectious disease threats.