Epidemic warning as quake toll rises to 615
Print Edition
THE death toll from the earthquake that devastated southwest China’s Yunnan Province rose to 615 yesterday, local authorities said.
Of the deaths, 526 were in the worst-hit Ludian County and 76 in Qiaojia County. Twelve people died in Qujing City, while there was one fatality in Zhaotong City, the local quake relief headquarters said.
In addition to the deaths, there were 114 people missing and 3,143 injured as of 7pm yesterday.
The earthquake, the strongest to strike Yunnan in 14 years, struck at 4:30pm on Sunday.
Health officials are warning of challenges for epidemic prevention following the quake.
Gatherings of people in tents and lowered immune systems increase the chances of tuberculosis spreading in clusters, He Qinghua, deputy director of the disease control bureau under the National Health and Family Planning Commission, told a press conference.
Prior to the earthquake, Yunnan already had a higher than average incidence of tuberculosis, He said.
He warned a lack of clean drinking water may also increase the chances of catching infectious intestinal diseases.
Meanwhile, thunderstorms are forecast for the province over the next three days, according to the China Meteorological Administration.
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