West Africa: Floods in Region Raise Major Health Risks

20 August 2008

Flood waters across West Africa are intensifying health risks for millions of people, adding to the food price crisis. And International aid is needed as heavy rains are forecast to last until September, could exacerbate health threats for conditions including malaria, diarrhea and other potentially fatal communicable diseases.

"West Africa's annual floods bring with them not only the threat of vector-borne and communicable diseases, but it further endangers the lives of people already malnourished by the food price crisis," said Dr Eric Laroche, Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Health Action in Crises Cluster.

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