Large-scale outbreaks of diarrhea, malaria, typhoid, and dengue fever have come at a particularly bad time as Pakistan struggles to cope with the long-term effects of severe flooding that has affected millions.
Pakistan Faces 'Second Disaster' From Waterborne Diseases
![Dr. Naveed Ahmed checks a girl suffering from malaria at the Sayed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences in Sehwan on September 29. Most of the estimated 300-400 patients arriving at the clinic each morning are suffering from malaria and diarrhea. With winter approaching, Ahmed fears other illnesses will become more common. "I hope people displaced by the floods can get back to their homes before winter. [Otherwise,] they will be exposed to respiratory illnesses and pneumonia living in tents," he said.](https://gdb.rferl.org/04020000-0aff-0242-e59d-08daa520a5c6_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Dr. Naveed Ahmed checks a girl suffering from malaria at the Sayed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences in Sehwan on September 29.
Most of the estimated 300-400 patients arriving at the clinic each morning are suffering from malaria and diarrhea. With winter approaching, Ahmed fears other illnesses will become more common. "I hope people displaced by the floods can get back to their homes before winter. [Otherwise,] they will be exposed to respiratory illnesses and pneumonia living in tents," he said.
Most of the estimated 300-400 patients arriving at the clinic each morning are suffering from malaria and diarrhea. With winter approaching, Ahmed fears other illnesses will become more common. "I hope people displaced by the floods can get back to their homes before winter. [Otherwise,] they will be exposed to respiratory illnesses and pneumonia living in tents," he said.
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Children make up a large portion of the malaria patients at the clinic where Ahmed works.
According to the health department of Sindh Province, the worst-affected region, 17,285 cases of malaria have been confirmed since July 1 and at least 340 people have died of diseases said to have been caused by the floods.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concern about an impending "second disaster" of waterborne diseases spreading across the country.
According to the health department of Sindh Province, the worst-affected region, 17,285 cases of malaria have been confirmed since July 1 and at least 340 people have died of diseases said to have been caused by the floods.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concern about an impending "second disaster" of waterborne diseases spreading across the country.
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A flood victim suffering from a fever waits for medical attention.
Stagnant floodwaters, spread over hundreds of square kilometers, may take up to six months to recede in some places and have already led to widespread cases of skin and eye infections, diarrhea, malaria, typhoid, and dengue fever.
Stagnant floodwaters, spread over hundreds of square kilometers, may take up to six months to recede in some places and have already led to widespread cases of skin and eye infections, diarrhea, malaria, typhoid, and dengue fever.
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Women affected by the floods sit with their children suffering from malaria and fever as they receive medical assistance.
One of Pakistan's most severe climate-change-related humanitarian disasters began more than three months ago with catastrophic floods. With its economy in crisis and supported by loans from the International Monetary Fund, Pakistan lacks the resources to cope with the long-term effects of the flooding.
One of Pakistan's most severe climate-change-related humanitarian disasters began more than three months ago with catastrophic floods. With its economy in crisis and supported by loans from the International Monetary Fund, Pakistan lacks the resources to cope with the long-term effects of the flooding.
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A man prepares a shelter for his family in Sehwan.
More than two million houses have been damaged or destroyed, and around 7.9 million people are reportedly displaced, including some 598,000 people living in relief camps, according to reports by the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA).
More than two million houses have been damaged or destroyed, and around 7.9 million people are reportedly displaced, including some 598,000 people living in relief camps, according to reports by the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA).
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A displaced girl carries a bottle of water in a camp in Sehwan on September 30.
The Pakistani government has designated 81 districts in five of Pakistan's six provinces as "calamity hit," with Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh provinces being the worst affected.
The Pakistani government has designated 81 districts in five of Pakistan's six provinces as "calamity hit," with Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh provinces being the worst affected.
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Women displaced because of the floods wait to receive food handouts while taking refuge in a camp in Sehwan.
The UN estimates that 1.6 million women of reproductive age, including nearly 130,000 pregnant women, need urgent health services.
The UN estimates that 1.6 million women of reproductive age, including nearly 130,000 pregnant women, need urgent health services.
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People affected by floods line up to receive free food distributed by the Pakistan Red Crescent Society in Larkana on October 2.
The United Nations has warned that about 5.7 million Pakistani flood survivors will face a serious food crisis in the next three months. Even before the floods, 16 percent of the population was living in moderate or severe food insecurity, according to the World Health Organization.
The United Nations has warned that about 5.7 million Pakistani flood survivors will face a serious food crisis in the next three months. Even before the floods, 16 percent of the population was living in moderate or severe food insecurity, according to the World Health Organization.
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Pakistan says the severe floods caused about $30 billion of damage to the country's economy. Floods washed away thousands of kilometers of roads, destroyed 440 bridges, and disrupted railroad traffic.
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Anticipating the risk of disease outbreaks after the rescue and relief phase of the floods, the Sindh provincial government is trying to hire more than 5,000 health professionals on a temporary basis in districts most at risk.
"We are short of human resources, considering the magnitude of the burden of disease following the unprecedented rains and floods," said Qasim Soomro, who is a provincial lawmaker and the parliamentary health secretary of the Sindh government.
"We are short of human resources, considering the magnitude of the burden of disease following the unprecedented rains and floods," said Qasim Soomro, who is a provincial lawmaker and the parliamentary health secretary of the Sindh government.
