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Deadly water-borne diseases are
on the increase in the Philippines following the recent onslaughts of floods and typhoons.Tropical Typhoon Ketsana devastated the Manila area on 26
September and was almost immediately followed by Typhoon Parma, which hit the Luzon region north of Manila on 3 October, triggering massive landslides and further compounding the crisis.Prolonged exposure to contaminated water has increased the incidence of diseases, such as leptospirosis, usually caught after direct contact with animal urine. According to
the Philippines Department of Health, almost 100 deaths and over 1,300 cases have been reported since Typhoon Ketsana â€" more than a year’s worth of cases.
Merlin’s emergency health assessor, Dr Sean Keogh, recently visited the Binangonan municipality in the Rizal Province on Lake Laguna. He explains:“Many of the islands are completely flooded and children are swimming in the contaminated floodwaters, contracting fungal infections. All but four of the 17 health
clinics on the islands have been completely flooded out. And the hospital on the mainland is waist deep with water.“The standing water is
creating the perfect conditions for diseases, such as dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes. Officials say that there will be a dengue fever outbreak in one to two weeks time. All of their
predictions so far, including the one on the leptospirosis outbreak, have been correct. The water will not drain this side of Christmas, so the problem is ongoing.â€Acute watery diarrhoea, which is endemic to certain areas of the Philippines, is also a problem, especially with the poor sanitation, lack of clean drinking water and
overcrowded conditions.Dr Keogh also visited Bagulin, one of the poorest municipalities in La Union province in the north of the country.“A 40ft torrent of water swept through and damaged much of the town. The health centre, church and the convent is now buried under 5ft of
mud.â€Lloyd Donaldson, Merlin’s Philippines Response Manager said:“With
numerous communities still flooded and many roads impassable due to landslides, collapsed bridges and burst dams, these diseases are only going to spread. Yet with so many health centres and hospitals
flooded or destroyed, it is difficult to ensure that people have access to the treatment they need.â€Merlin has already begun work with partners
on the ground and will now target resources at re-establishing essential health care activities.We will particularly focus on preventing the spread of
communicable diseases, together with supporting mobile health clinics, providing essential hygiene kits and rehabilitating health facilities.However, at a time
when an unprecedented three disasters hit the Asia-Pacific region in a week (including the earthquake in Indonesia and tsunami in Samoa), finding the funding needed is a major challenge.Help Merlin to save lives in
the Philippines: Please donate now
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Shoes belonging to HIV infected children are lined up outside a room in an orphanage run by the Fuyang AIDS Orphan Salvation Association in Fuyang, Anhui province November 27, 2009. Picture ...
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