Although many people were evacuated the area was devastated. Casualties did result from the eruption and the dead bodies cause an increased concerned of the spread of disease in the area. Dangerous gases released from the eruption affected the global weather systems with the area around the volcano experiencing the worst air quality. Destruction to the land affects the water and food sources which can lead to increase disease in the survivors. Watson, Gayer and Connolly (2007) explain “the primary risk for communicable disease transmission is associated with the size and characteristics of the population displaced, specifically the proximity of safe water and functioning latrines, the nutritional status of the displaced population, the level of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and the access to healthcare services” (pg. 1). Large numbers of people forced to live in small areas created a scenario where diseased can spread. In the case of the Pinatubo eruption “crowded living conditions led to a measles outbreak, 18,000 cases were documented” (pg. 3).
How did this natural disaster lead to the spread of disease?
As discussed Mount Pinatubo was a highly explosive eruption and the ash and debris covered the surrounding area. Due to modern methods of tracking and predicting volcanic activity many lives were spare from evaluation efforts, Hecht et al. (2003) explain “the first set of evacuations began about two months prior of about 5000 people, the volcanic activity continued and in the end 58,000 people were evacuated” (pg. 111).
Although many people were evacuated the area was devastated. Casualties did result from the eruption and the dead bodies cause an increased concerned of the spread of disease in the area. Dangerous gases released from the eruption affected the global weather systems with the area around the volcano experiencing the worst air quality. Destruction to the land affects the water and food sources which can lead to increase disease in the survivors. Watson, Gayer and Connolly (2007) explain “the primary risk for communicable disease transmission is associated with the size and characteristics of the population displaced, specifically the proximity of safe water and functioning latrines, the nutritional status of the displaced population, the level of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and the access to healthcare services” (pg. 1). Large numbers of people forced to live in small areas created a scenario where diseased can spread. In the case of the Pinatubo eruption “crowded living conditions led to a measles outbreak, 18,000 cases were documented” (pg. 3).
Although many people were evacuated the area was devastated. Casualties did result from the eruption and the dead bodies cause an increased concerned of the spread of disease in the area. Dangerous gases released from the eruption affected the global weather systems with the area around the volcano experiencing the worst air quality. Destruction to the land affects the water and food sources which can lead to increase disease in the survivors. Watson, Gayer and Connolly (2007) explain “the primary risk for communicable disease transmission is associated with the size and characteristics of the population displaced, specifically the proximity of safe water and functioning latrines, the nutritional status of the displaced population, the level of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and the access to healthcare services” (pg. 1). Large numbers of people forced to live in small areas created a scenario where diseased can spread. In the case of the Pinatubo eruption “crowded living conditions led to a measles outbreak, 18,000 cases were documented” (pg. 3).