Hurricane Mitch Devastates Latin America
Contaminated Drinking Water Presents Critical Public Health Challenge

The deadliest hurricane season in more than two centuries has come to an end, but recovery efforts in many of the regions hardest hit are expected to last for years to come. This is particularly true in Central America, where in just three days, 50 years worth of agricultural, housing and infrastructure developments were destroyed by Hurricane Mitch.

As Mitch approached Honduras, Nicaragua and the other nations of Central America in late October 1998, the storm carried winds blowing at 180 miles per hour and gusts estimated at more than 200 miles per hour. When the storm reached these nations, it stalled for 72 hours, dumping torrential and constant rains. The widespread flooding and mudslides wiped out entire villages.

Hundreds of thousands of people were killed, injured, reported missing or left homeless by the wrath of Mitch. As of late December 1998, over 9,000 Central Americans had died as a direct result of the hurricane. Another 9,200 were missing, and 13,000 were injured. Homelessness is rampant; in Honduras alone, officials estimate that 20% of the population was displaced. In total, an estimated $5.4 billion worth of damage was incurred.

Mitch has proven to be the deadliest Atlantic storm in over 200 years, with the death toll expected to rise sharply in the coming months.

Contaminated Water runs through Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Health officials throughout Central America are facing outbreaks of disease in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. The destruction of drinking water supplies represents the most serious health risk facing the population at large. Many water filtration plants and water transport systems were destroyed as the storm raged through the region. As a result, most residents have been forced to obtain their drinking water from unpurified sources, such as muddy rivers and streams. Medical practitioners are concerned that diseases such as cholera, dengue fever, leptospirosis, acute diarrhea and malaria could spread to epidemic proportions.

Claude de Ville, Chief of the Pan American Health Organization's (PAHO's) Disaster Relief Program, confirmed that the contaminated drinking water presents a major public health challenge in this region as a result of the devastation. He also noted that the risk of an epidemic has risen greatly in Honduras and Nicaragua, countries where cholera is already endemic.

As of mid-December, cholera figures began to rise sharply, and there are indications that hemorrhagic dengue is on the increase throughout Central America. Over 4,800 cases of cholera have been confirmed or suspected, and over 4,000 cases of dengue have been confirmed. In Nicaragua, leptospirosis is an increasing cause of concern, with 612 suspected cases to date.

Massive preventive efforts are underway to combat the looming threats of potential epidemics. Even two months after the height of the storm, tens of thousands of people were still without water, sanitation, power or other municipal services.

Thousands of residents continue to work in sewage-filled fields. Reports of people rinsing themselves, their clothes and their dishes in contaminated streams are rampant. Few residents are aware of the dangers of contaminated water, and fewer still have the resources to do anything about it.

The relief community, governments, industry and private donors have mounted a vigorous campaign to assist Central Americans. The U.S. government estimates that its efforts following Hurricane Mitch already have surpassed the entire Berlin Airlift, the massive effort undertaken by Western allies following a Soviet-imposed blockade of Berlin in 1948 - 1949.

Drinking water disinfectants and housing supplies continue to be an essential need of the relief community. The chlorine industry has responded by making a major donation of chlorine-based products, including calcium hypochlorite and vinyl sheeting.

"Unfortunately, the adversity facing the Central American population did not end as Hurricane Mitch passed," said Kip Howlett, Executive Director of the Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council. "While it is impossible to prevent the damage caused by natural disasters, we hope that our products can help prevent the spread of disease," he added. (The article "Chlorine Industry Responds to Crisis Following Hurricane Mitch" is accessible here.)

Although the efforts of the international relief community have had an extraordinary impact, the health and safety of Central Americans remain very much at stake. Recovery in these countries is expected to be a long-term endeavor. Close monitoring of conditions is necessary to protect the citizenry from additional outbreaks of disease.

For more information, see www.paho.org.

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