Postdisaster epidemiological assessment of Koshi flood 2008, in Nepal

International Journal of Health System and Disaster Management, 2016;4:15-24, doi:10.4103/2347-9019.175674:

This research is focused on the epidemiology of the aftermath of a major flood in Koshi in the eastern part of Nepal in August 2008. Although, direct flood induced mortality was only two, 39 more mortalities were reported within the four months of the disaster event, mostly amongst those living in the rehabilitation camps. Data for this study was collected through questionnaire surveys and the secondary data from District Public Health Office (DPHO), Sunsari and well as local health centers.

According to the study, the waterborne infectious diseases and mental disorders were found as the major prominent diseases during the post flood period. The infectious diseases increased by 30% in the first year after the disaster whereas the number of mental disorder patients increased immediately and also within one to three years of period from 29.2% to 62.5% during the post disaster phase. The study concludes that the effectiveness of epidemiological interventions would be efficient if it continues up to two years after the flood.