Answer:
Box 11.1 Flooding in the Czech Republic1
Eastern areas of the Czech Republic were severely flooded in the summer of 1997. A total of
438 towns and villages were affected, and 2151 homes were destroyed. More than 200000
people were left without electricity and 30000 without gas. About 3500 wells and other water
sources were contaminated and wastewater-treatment plants were rendered inoperable. The
Centre of Microbiology of the Czech National Institute of Public Health took immediate action,
in collaboration with the regional hygiene stations. All reports of outbreaks of typhoid fever, sal-
monellosis, shigellosis, acute diarrhoea, viral hepatitis A, tularaemia, invasive meningococcal
disease, toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis and Lyme disease were evaluated, and a special hepati-
tis A vaccination programme was launched among 3–15-year-olds in selected areas. Postdis-
aster analysis showed that leptospirosis had increased threefold, but that there had been no
demonstrable flooding effects in the other diseases targeted. No viral hepatitis A was reported
from the populations vaccinated. Recommended follow-up measures included monitoring and
controlling rodents.
1Source: B. Kriz, unpublished data, 1998.
Box 11.2 Monitoring mortality among refugees in eastern Zaire1,2
During the emergency phase of a relief operation, death rates should be expressed as
deaths/10000 per day to allow for the detection of sudden changes. In general, health workers
should be concerned when crude mortality rates (CMRs) in a displaced population exceed 1/10
000 per day, or when under-five mortality rates exceed 2/10000 per day.
In eastern Zaire in July 1994, the CMR among one million Rwandan refugees ranged from
34.1 to 54.5/10000 per day, among the highest ever recorded. Between 6 and 10% of the
refugee population died during the month after arrival in Zaire. This high mortality rate was
almost entirely due to an epidemic of diarrhoeal diseases and inadequate water supply.
By the third week of the refugee influx, relief efforts began to have a significant impact.
Routine measures, such as measles immunization, vitamin A supplements, standard disease-
treatment protocols and community outreach programmes, were established in each camp,
and the water-distribution system began to provide an average of 5–10 litres per person per
day.
Copyright © 2024 EHUB.TIPS team's - All rights reserved.
Answers & Comments
Answer:
Box 11.1 Flooding in the Czech Republic1
Eastern areas of the Czech Republic were severely flooded in the summer of 1997. A total of
438 towns and villages were affected, and 2151 homes were destroyed. More than 200000
people were left without electricity and 30000 without gas. About 3500 wells and other water
sources were contaminated and wastewater-treatment plants were rendered inoperable. The
Centre of Microbiology of the Czech National Institute of Public Health took immediate action,
in collaboration with the regional hygiene stations. All reports of outbreaks of typhoid fever, sal-
monellosis, shigellosis, acute diarrhoea, viral hepatitis A, tularaemia, invasive meningococcal
disease, toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis and Lyme disease were evaluated, and a special hepati-
tis A vaccination programme was launched among 3–15-year-olds in selected areas. Postdis-
aster analysis showed that leptospirosis had increased threefold, but that there had been no
demonstrable flooding effects in the other diseases targeted. No viral hepatitis A was reported
from the populations vaccinated. Recommended follow-up measures included monitoring and
controlling rodents.
1Source: B. Kriz, unpublished data, 1998.
Box 11.2 Monitoring mortality among refugees in eastern Zaire1,2
During the emergency phase of a relief operation, death rates should be expressed as
deaths/10000 per day to allow for the detection of sudden changes. In general, health workers
should be concerned when crude mortality rates (CMRs) in a displaced population exceed 1/10
000 per day, or when under-five mortality rates exceed 2/10000 per day.
In eastern Zaire in July 1994, the CMR among one million Rwandan refugees ranged from
34.1 to 54.5/10000 per day, among the highest ever recorded. Between 6 and 10% of the
refugee population died during the month after arrival in Zaire. This high mortality rate was
almost entirely due to an epidemic of diarrhoeal diseases and inadequate water supply.
By the third week of the refugee influx, relief efforts began to have a significant impact.
Routine measures, such as measles immunization, vitamin A supplements, standard disease-
treatment protocols and community outreach programmes, were established in each camp,
and the water-distribution system began to provide an average of 5–10 litres per person per
day.