An assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO) identified waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases, as well as mental health disorders, as public health risks in the current post-flood period on São Vicente Island, Cape Verde.
The torrential rains from the storm on August 11 caused nine deaths, two missing persons, and destruction of infrastructure on the Cape Verdean island.
“There has been an increase in cases of diarrhea and respiratory infections. However, the situation remains within the alert threshold. Due to poor water and sanitation conditions, teams have been mobilized to strengthen active surveillance of diseases with higher risk of occurrence,” the document dated Friday, consulted on Monday (29) by Lusa, reads.
According to the WHO, “alerts were issued due to cases of diarrhea, fever, and headaches” among people sheltered in schools (nine cases, including two children) and another center set up at the Mindelo Stadium (six adult cases).
Limited access to water, sanitation, and hygiene “is a key risk factor for acute diarrhea,” and floods following prolonged drought “can increase exposure to diarrheal pathogens: drought conditions concentrate them, which are then released with floodwaters, increasing the risk of disease transmission,” the document explains. The risk of gastroenteritis outbreaks in São Vicente “has increased significantly,” associated with “low risk perception regarding food safety, poor hygiene and sanitation conditions, and frequent reports of foodborne outbreaks among residents and tourists.”
For vector-borne diseases, such as those transmitted by mosquitoes—including dengue, malaria, and other arboviruses—the risk has risen significantly due to stagnant water accumulated after the floods.
“The Ministry of Health and a WHO entomologist were sent to São Vicente to assess the impact of the floods on mosquito-borne disease risk,” the international body reported, noting that the Cape Verdean government had already declared, on August 1, a “national contingency situation” based on the need to prevent and mitigate the potential risk of dengue spread and malaria reintroduction.*
Moreover, the floods on São Vicente “significantly affected mental health conditions in the affected communities,” due to “destruction of homes, displacement of families, loss of livelihoods, and disruption of essential services,” the report added. All these factors contributed “to increased levels of psychological distress, anxiety, and trauma.”
Although water production has been restored, the distribution system is not yet fully operational, and vulnerabilities in the drainage system persist.
Additionally, limitations in solid waste and medical waste management were observed, along with the persistence of animal carcasses in some communities, representing additional public health risks, the document noted. The WHO also warned of the risk of increasing food insecurity, as previously highlighted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) last week.
The storm severely impacted livelihoods, particularly among “small farmers and fishing families, who also suffered destruction of crops, irrigation systems, boats, and assets. Key agricultural areas, such as Ribeira de Calhau, Tchon d’Holanda, and Ribeira de Vinha, experienced extensive damage, with small farmers losing crops and livestock,” it described.
The WHO is providing technical and financial support for human resources, transportation, medical supplies, epidemiological surveillance, deployment of psychologists, extended operating hours at health centers, and installation of a hospital waste incinerator.
Source: Lusa
