7 May 2008

Tropical Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar – advice for relief workers and other travellers to affected areas

On 2 May 2008, category three Tropical Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar (formerly Burma) triggering a tidal wave [1]. The cyclone made landfall in the Irrawaddy delta area before tracking inland, directly hitting Yangon (formerly Rangoon) later the same evening. The areas reported to have been most affected are Irrawaddy Division, Yangon Division, Bago Division, Kayin State, Kayah State and Mon State. More than 22,000 people are reported to have died and a further 41,000 are missing [2]. Extensive structural damage, low water supplies and downed power lines have been reported from Yangon and Irrawaddy. 

A map of the affected areas can be found on the ReliefWeb website.

Advice for travellers

Country-specific health advice for travellers to Myanmar can be found on the NaTHNaC Country Information Page. General advice can also be found in the NaTHNaC Advice for relief workers and other travellers to areas affected by natural disasters.

Safety and security

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is currently advising against travel to the affected areas of the country.

Those planning to travel to assist in areas affected by the disaster are advised to consult the FCO and should contact appropriate aid and charity agencies for guidance on how best they can help.  

Food and water advice

Unsanitary living conditions, damage to sewage systems, flooding and limited supplies of clean drinking water, increase the risk of diarrhoeal illnesses.

Careful food and water hygiene precautions should be taken by travellers to the area.

Vector-borne diseases

Flooding and areas of standing water can increase the risk of outbreaks of endemic mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. Travellers are advised to take insect bite avoidance measures.

Specific advice on the malaria risk in Myanmar can be found in the NaTHNaC Country Information Page or the Health Protection Agency Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention Guidelines.

Vaccination advice

All travellers to Myanmar are advised to ensure their routine vaccinations, including MMR are up to date.

Travellers should consult their practice nurse or specialist travel clinic for vaccination advice. Specific advice on recommended vaccinations for Myanmar can be found on the NaTHNaC Country Information Page. Travellers to the affected areas should ensure that they have received a tetanus vaccine within the previous ten years, and consider hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid and cholera vaccines.

  

Other health risks

The risk of injury after a natural disaster is high. Hazards such as electrocutions from downed power lines, structural damage to buildings, roads and basic services all pose a risk. Particular care should be taken if wading in flood waters to reduce the chance of injury and secondary infections of any cuts in the skin with bacteria such as Vibrio vulnificus. The risk of leptospirosis should also be considered.

There may be severe damage to health facilities together with shortages of surgical supplies and medicines. Travellers should carry with them a personal first aid kit [3].

Travelling to an area affected by a natural disaster without adequate preparation may put a strain on the already challenged emergency and medical services in the area.

References

1. ReliefWeb. Myanmar: Hazard Identification Tool - Tropical Cyclone Nargis. 2 May 2008. [Accessed 7 May 2008]. Online resource. Available at http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ASAZ-7EDAYQ?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=TC-2008-000057-MMR

2. Reuters Foundation AlertNet. Myanmar cyclone wave killed most of 150,000 victims. 6 May 2008. [Accessed 7 May 2008]. Online resource. Available at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP228208.htm

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health recommendations for relief workers responding to disasters. 22 December 2005. [Accessed 7 May 2008]. Available at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentReliefWorkers.aspx

Links and further information

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

NaTHNaC Country Information Page - Myanmar

ReliefWeb Myanmar: Tropical Cyclone Nargis – May 2008

World Health Organization Health Action in Crises

World Health Organization Myanmar situation reports

World Health Organization Tropical cyclones - Technical hazard sheet