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PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARED IN GULF REGION |
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by Dr. David Marks, M.D. August 31, 2005; 5:26 pm US/Eastern (CBS) NEW ORLEANS Government officials declared a state of public health emergency for the areas hardest hit by the hurricane and flooding, today. After a natural disaster, short and long-term medical problems can occur. Diseases like cholera, typhoid, hepatitis and mosquito-borne illnesses tend to break out under these conditions. In order to handle these illnesses, the government is setting up a network of medical shelters that can hold ten thousand patients. If there are more victims, officials may utilize other hospital beds around the country. (© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.) |