Survivors could be at risk of mosquito-borne illnesses due to pooling water.
In this image supplied by the International Organization for Migration, villagers search amongst the debris from a landslide in the village of Yambali in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, May 27, 2024.Outbreaks of disease could emerge following the devastating landslide that occurred in Papua New Guinea, according to experts.
Population health and infectious disease experts told ABC News that, after a landslide, standing water, lack of access to medical care and improper sanitation can lead to disease outbreaks. Additionally, mental health can be severely impacted with symptoms lasting for several years after the event.
"It turns out that, unlike earthquakes, which typically are not associated directly with increases in malaria, landslides that occur in countries that have high malaria rates seem to be associated with big outbreaks of malaria," he told ABC News. "And this seems to be due to both the fact that the landslides clear away forests and also create spaces for pooling of water, which the mosquitoes that carry the malaria just love.
Additionally, patients may not be able to access their medications, which could result in a worsening of their conditions.
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