Health Hazards by Sea Cyclones in Odisha, the Supercyclone and the Phailin

Odisha Review November - 2013 Health Hazards by Sea Cyclones in Odisha, the Supercyclone and the Phailin Madhusmita Patra Dr. Swarnamayee Tripathy Dr. Indramani Jena Introduction of these disasters, the social, cultural, and psychological impact of cyclones and tsunamis Besides the many benefits of the ocean, have an enormous and long-lasting impact on man and other populations inhabiting the coastal human civilization throughout the world. It is region share in the risk for meteorological and nature’s force to demolish civilizations in twinkling seismic hazards originating from the seas. Tropical of an eye by making and breaking islands in the cyclones (also named as typhoons and hurricanes) ocean or even bigger landscapes. Life and health and tsunamis represent the most powerful and hazards are incidental to the great stroke of destructive of all marine hazards. During the last nature. two centuries, tropical cyclones have been responsible for the deaths of about 1.9 million Cyclone proneness of Odisha and history of people in the world.1 During 1980–2000, an Cyclonic storms average of 11,800 deaths per year was attributed Odisha’s vulnerability to cyclones is to cyclones.2 The deadliest tropical cyclone was noticeable from early days of history. It is on the Bhola Cyclone of 1970, which made a death record of Hathigumpha inscriptions about cyclone toll of 300,000 to 500,000 lives in Bangladesh. devastated Kalinganagari and its repair by Sixteen of the 18 deadliest tropical cyclones Kharavela during first year of his reign. Tsunamis occurred in the Asia-Pacific region. Tsunamis have causing appearance of new islands and greater potential to affect the health of millions. disappearance of existing ones had been strange Since 1945, tsunamis have killed more people events for Odia navigators and settlers in South than earthquakes.3 Over 450 tsunamis have been East Asia and the Far East region. recorded during last 100 years, the deadliest Pacific one of 1994 had killed over 51,000 Around the past half century, Odisha has people4 and the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 witnessed sea cyclones in 1971, 1973, 1977, had killed nearly 300,000 and affected over 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1999 and 2,000,000 (two million) people in twelve nations.5 2013 which have damaged life and property. The effects of cyclones and tsunamis on Odisha, with its long coastline of 450 kilo human-health cannot be underestimated. Apart metres, occupies the face of the attracting tunnel from the public health and medical consequences for cyclones from Indian ocean northwards, with 30 November - 2013 Odisha Review indentations of its Ganjam, Khordha, Puri, are less easy to study than these factors and their Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada to Bay of Bengal, causal processes and effects are less easily usually these costal districts facing the direction quantified. of flow of the cyclonic storm. Drowning during the impact phase of the Geographically, the Bay of Bengal is the disaster causes the overwhelming majority of home ground of cyclones due to its peculiar deaths from cyclones and tsunamis. Populations topography. This acts as an attracting funnel for are at risk of death simply by virtue of their cyclones in the oceanic milieu. As the cyclone physical proximity to low-lying land situated near originates and moves towards the coast, it gathers the coastline. However, there is significant promise strength being squeezed between the land mass for the future in that nearly all these deaths are comprising the Indian coast (Andhra Pradesh, preventable with the proper advance warning and Odisha, West Bengal) on the west side with population evacuation. Very few drowning victims Bangladesh to the north and Myanmar to the east. would be expected to survive the initial inundation, Due to the constricted path, the cyclone can even with the added benefit of fully adequate accumulate greater momentum as it plays within emergency-response capacity. Preparedness is lesser ocean surface before landfall. Out of the the key to preserving human life in the setting 35 deadliest tropical cyclones of the world, the of cyclones and tsunami disasters. All other Bay of Bengal has recorded 26, which measures are less effective, less compassionate, substantiates its geographic vulnerability. The and much more expensive. marine environment that forms the pace of these devastating cyclones is not fully understood. Only Whenever there is a disruption of routine public health services (like that which occurs after very recently there is understanding of how sea a cyclone or tsunami), there is the potential for surface temperature affects the characteristics of secondary adverse health effects to develop tropical storms and cyclones, and how ocean among the disaster-affected population. The best subsurface temperatures, thermocline depths and opportunity to prevent or lessen secondary health thicknesses affect activity of the El Niño Southern effects is during the emergency-response phase. Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, tropical cyclone intensification, and landfall prediction.6 Human-Health Impact of Cyclones Health hazards as outcome of Cyclonic The Mortality Trend Aftermaths Prior to the implementation of early The climate-health relationships that are warning, evacuation, and shelter systems, the easiest to define and study are those in relation drowning from storm surge accounted for an to heat waves, the physical hazards of floods, estimated 90 per cent of cyclone attributable storms, and fires, and various infectious diseases mortality in both developed and developing (especially those that are vector-borne). Other nations.7 Storm-surge drowning deaths have important climatic risks to health, from changes decreased markedly in developed nations due to in regional food yields, disruption of fisheries, loss improvements in hurricane forecasting, of livelihoods, and population displacement evacuation, and shelter procedures.8 Now, most (because of sea-level rise, water shortages, etc) of the storm-related mortality, and much of the 31 Odisha Review November - 2013 morbidity, occurs during the post-impact period; disease surveillance has occasionally however, if major infrastructure damage is detected increases in self-limiting sustained, it can be difficult to document the true gastrointestinal disease and respiratory extent of mortality and morbidity. In developed infections.15 But more typically, no increase nations, the most prominent causes of death and in communicable disease is found.16 injury are electrocutions from downed power lines, chain-saw injuries, blunt trauma from falling — Though the record and report of rising trees, and motor-vehicle fatalities occurring during incidence of Malaria as aftermath of cyclones the early post-impact period.9 Unfortunately, is lacking, there is adequate evidence of rising storm surge remains the primary cause of mortality trend of mosquito menace and Malarial following tropical cyclones in developing nations outbreaks in these devastated areas in that lack critical preparedness measures.10 The tropical climates and Odisha, the endemic other causes of fatality are the collapsing mud home of Malaria. But, comparatively there walls of the residences and the falling trees in the are few reports of isolated outbreaks developing countries. associated with vector-borne illness in developing nations. For example, interruption Storm-Associated Illness and Injury of health services including an anti-Malaria campaign that contributed to a Malaria — Injury represents the major cause of death outbreak in Haiti following Hurricane Flora and the primary cause of morbidity for 17 11 in 1963. The incidence of Dengue fevers tropical cyclones. rose in Guatemala and Honduras following — The top three cyclone-related injuries are Hurricane Mitch in 1998.18 lacerations, blunt trauma, and puncture wounds, with 80 per cent of these injuries — There was an outbreak of mental imbalance being confined to the feet and lower limbs.12 and depressive disorders in Odisha among Supercyclone survivors of 1999 that lasted — Snakebites are invariably associated with for more than one year due to socio- cyclonic events in Odisha. economic disarray inflicted by the cyclone. It was more with those who lost their family — An increased incidence of animal and insect and relatives. Rates of suicide19 and child bites following tropical cyclones has also abuse20 appear to rise following natural been noted.13 disasters. The National Institute of Mental — Chronic diseases (such as asthma and Health (NIMH) has been quite proactive in emphysema) are also known to be seeking to address mental-health issues of exacerbated.14 those disaster victims affected by Hurricane Katrina.21 — In the last cyclones, communicable disease like diarrhoeal diseases have caused great Type of morbidity by Cyclone and Tsunami : problem of health management in cyclone devastated area due to water pollution and Crush injury, Head injury, Asphyxiation, Isolated lack of drainage mechanism. But in bone injury, Skin soft tissue injury, Burns, developed nations, post-hurricane infectious Drowning, Asthma/Emphysema, Hypothermia, 32 November - 2013 Odisha Review Epidemics, Starvation, Aspiration Pneumonia, with well documentation facilities. Necessary Tetanus, Wound infections, Psychological illness. arrangement for disposal of animal carcasses is Cyclonic storms and tsunamis differ on also a priority. the incidence of death rates, severity of injuries, There is also provision for maintenance damage of health

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