Disease outbreak fears rise in quake aftermath

HEALTH workers in Indonesia’s quake-hit Sumatra are battling to contain local outbreaks of diarrhoea and dengue fever, and require more specialist equipment, officials and a doctor said yesterday.

The 7.6 magnitude quake, which struck on September 30, killed at least 807 people and badly damaged healthcare facilities in the city of Padang and surrounding areas.

About 10% of the region is still without a local health clinic, said Gde Yogadhita, the World Health Organisation’s emergency field operations programme manager.

“There has been no widespread outbreak of disease yet, but we are seeing more cases of diarrhoea and dengue fever,” he said, adding people were also suffering from tetanus and respiratory infections.

Matt Eckersley, an Australian doctor in Padang, said more specialists, such as burns experts, were needed.

“We have only two nurses per 50 people, and they are the same nurses who have been here since the beginning. They are exhausted,” added, Ade Edward, head of West Sumatra’s earthquake coordinating desk.

“We have enough medicine for this week but it will run out soon. We need four weeks’ supply in advance but now we only have enough for one week in advance.”

The WHO said there was also a shortage of specialist equipment.

The UN has launched a $38 million (€25m) appeal to pay for urgent humanitarian needs.