Study of the incidence of vector-borne diseases after the Bam earthquake in 2004

Disasters that result in large areas of standing water potentially lend themselves to increased rates of vector-borne disease. Although disease epidemics rarely occur following natural disasters, a theoretical vector-borne risk exists if flooding provides more breeding sites and if extensive damage to homes allows increased exposure. In this research, we report the incidence of vector-borne disease after the Bam earthquake. Material and methods: This is a descriptive follow up study. We collect data of vector-borne disease as cutaneous leishmaniasis, suspected to malaria, and hemorrhagic fever, which refer to the health care center after one week of the disaster with one month duration. Results: In our study, only 53 cases of suspected malaria with incidence 6 in 10000 populations were reported. During the study period, 68 cases refer to clinic because of cutaneous leishmaniasis with incidence rate 7.5 in 10000 populations. About hemorrhagic fever, there was no any case seen in this study. Discussion: Increased temperature, lack of appropriate housing, over crowded population in camps were reasons, which increase the incidence of vector-borne disease. General warming of the climate may change the endemicity of certain vector-borne diseases such as malaria, making the likelihood of these diseases emerging from a disaster a realistic threat. The disruption in environmental conditions can favor the increased breeding of vectors or the dispersal of diseases of low endemicity.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bam earthquake ، disaster ، vector-borne diseases