Evaluation of diseases survelliance studies after flood disaster in Batman province

• Main Author: Deniz Akgün
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dicle University Medical School 2009-03-01
• Series: Dicle Medical Journal
• Subjects: Flood disaster; contagious disease; surveillance; Batman
• Online Access: http://4181.indexcopernicus.com/fulltxt.php?ICID=885216
• ISSN: 1300-2945; 1308-9889

The aim of this study was to evaluate the contagious diseases surveillance studies after the flood disaster between 31.10.2006 and 02.11.2006 in Batman province. After flood disaster, there had been taken some measures about water sanitation, immunization and organization of the health services and the public education issues.Super chlorination procedure had been applied to drinking water in the city center. The free chlorine levels of 890 water specimens from different areas of the province had been measured and the results were between 0.3 to 0.8 ppm. A random 359 specimens were tested biologically and chemically and they have been found eligible to use. Health units of the municipality had been provided with adequate tetanus vaccine in order to inoculate the persons who had been wounded. Children without adequate childhood vaccinations and immunizations were encouraged to complete their vaccinations in the closest dispensaries. A structural questionnaire had been applied with the aim of collecting data about potential contagious diseases in the area. For the following two weeks after the disaster, 0.6 % of the residents were observed to have gastroenteritis. However, the EPI Curve of the gastroenteritis cases do not show a potential epidemic in the province. Active surveillance system which applies by visiting households is important for taking essential preventive measures; besides, early detecting of potential contagious diseases.