WHO raises the alarm on disease outbreaks in quake-hit Venezuela

The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced serious concerns about the potential for disease outbreaks in Venezuela following devastating earthquakes. Local health services are reportedly overwhelmed, with facilities struggling to cope with the surge in trauma cases and operating beyond their capacity.

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The health services are under extreme pressure now, with facilities operating beyond their capacity.

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier noted that "The health services are under extreme pressure now, with facilities operating beyond their capacity." He highlighted problems with registering casualties and tracking missing persons, with official counts listing 1,700 dead and 5,000 injured, though other estimates place the missing in the tens of thousands. Lindmeier warned of an "increased risk now of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases" such as measles and diphtheria, exacerbated by low pre-earthquake vaccination coverage.

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There’s an increased risk now of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Additionally, there is a heightened risk of yellow fever, and other vector- and water-borne diseases including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Preliminary findings from 21 health facilities indicate chaotic service delivery, overcrowding, growing surgical backlogs, and breakdown in biosafety measures. Critical gaps include the collapse of forensic and morgue services. The UN refugee agency warned of rising community tensions due to constrained aid access, while Doctors Without Borders is planning assistance for thousands left homeless.

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Preliminary findings reveal chaotic service delivery and patient flow, marked by overcrowding; growing surgical backlogs, especially in trauma, orthopaedics, and neurosurgery; breakdown in biosafety measures; and severely stressed staff.