Lack Of Access To Water, Sanitation, Medicines Increases Risk Of Disease In Hurricane-Hit Bahamas, Experts Warn

Reuters: After Dorian, disease is next threat on shattered Bahamian island
“Piles of debris, decaying human and animal corpses, and fetid water on storm-hammered Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas are posing a new risk for those who survived Hurricane Dorian’s wrath: Disease…” (Fagenson/Caspani, 9/12).

TIME: Hurricane Dorian Is Gone. But the Bahamas Still Faces a Big Risk From Infectious Disease
“…The lack of access to toilets, clean water, and medications puts tens of thousands at risk for disease, public health experts warn. … [A]id groups are saying survivors are beginning to show signs of gastrointestinal issues from contaminated water. Those with chronic illnesses are struggling without access to treatment for chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. And if water that the storm dumped on the islands remains stagnant and untreated for long enough, it could become a breeding ground for mosquitos, giving rise to diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and Zika…” (Mansoor/Law, 9/12).

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