WHO warns of disease outbreak risk in Venezuela after earthquakes

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning regarding Venezuela's heightened vulnerability to disease outbreaks, particularly in the aftermath of recent earthquakes. Ciro Ugarte, director for emergencies at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), cited already low vaccination coverage as a primary driver of this increased risk.

"Vaccination coverage in Venezuela, especially against measles and other diseases, was already low, so the risk of measles cases and other diseases is high at this moment," Ugarte stated, as reported by EFE. He highlighted that the risk is particularly acute in shelters, where overcrowding can lead to rapid disease transmission. Compounding this concern is the compromised quality and scarcity of safe drinking water in devastated areas.

Ugarte explained that assessing the situation in all shelters is difficult due to limited water supply, making the evaluation of water quality a top priority, especially for large shelters. PAHO is considering selective vaccinations against mosquito-borne or other vector-borne diseases in crowded shelters and for individuals remaining in affected zones.

The PAHO has evaluated eight medical facilities, finding that all require support. Three of these facilities have sustained structural damage. The Hospital José María Vargas, a major public hospital in Caracas, is in critical condition and requires urgent assistance. It currently houses 96 patients in a ward designed for eight beds, and its blood bank is critically low.

In La Guaira, the Rafael Medina Jiménez Hospital has reduced its bed capacity from 108 to 35. Additionally, 22 other health centers have reported severe shortages, underscoring the widespread strain on Venezuela's healthcare system in the wake of the natural disaster.