Southeast Asia's next 'tsunami'<\/p>\n
More than 160,000 people perished in the massive earthquake and
\ntowering waves that devastated countries around the Indian Ocean
\nlast month. Up to 100,000 more could die, according to health
\nexperts, if urgent steps were not taken in the stricken areas.<\/p>\n
This time, the agents of death would be almost invisible to
\nthe eye. They would spread unseen, claiming their victims through
\nstealth. The next catastrophe, say the experts, could be malaria.<\/p>\n
Already, the World Health Organization has reported that seven
\ncases of malaria have been confirmed in the disaster zone in
\nIndonesia, where the calamity was at its worst.<\/p>\n
Malaria is not the only threat looming on the horizon. Because
\nclean water has become scarce, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and
\nother water-borne diseases could break out in remote villages.<\/p>\n
Malaria is not a disease to be dealt with lightly. Each year,
\nan estimated 2.5 million people die from it, a million of which
\nare children, all over the world.<\/p>\n
More than US$3 billion have been raised for relief and
\nreconstruction in the quake and tsunami-hit countries. We just
\nhope a big chunk of this fund would be devoted to disease
\nprevention. It would be criminal if the world allowed another
\n100,000 lives to be snuffed out before making a move.
\n-- The Manila Times<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/southeast-asias-next-tsunami-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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