Following the earthquake that devastated the Gaziantep region of Turkey and neighbouring areas of Syria on 6 February, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warns in a publication dated 17 February that epidemics of food- and water-borne diseases, respiratory infections and vaccine-preventable infections could affect populations.
The Centre estimates that infectious disease outbreaks will become a concern within 2 to 4 weeks.
The risk is increased by the movement of people to temporary shelters and by the fact that public infrastructure is damaged. Moreover, in war-affected Syria, a planned vaccination campaign against an ongoing cholera outbreak has been interrupted.
The ECDC emphasises the need for access to health care, shelter, clean drinking water and sanitation facilities. The ECDC also stresses the importance of food handling monitoring.
The Centre calls for the continuation of routine immunisation and the provision of tetanus prophylaxes for rescuers.
The ECDC also highlights the importance of establishing health surveillance systems by public health staff, for early warnings and the detection of outbreaks.
Finally, the ECDC encourages public health risk communication and community engagement.
Link to the publication: https://aeur.eu/f/5er (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)