Big number of corpse from disaster and the risk of communicable desease

Death due to natural disaster is generally caused by dull trauma. Big number of corpse within short period in disaster area can cause fear of epidemic, however there is not any proof yet declaring that those corpse increase the risk of post-disater epidemic. When death occurs immediately after disaster, the human corpse does not cause epidemic. The infection sources are usually from the survivor than those who died due to disaster. Death due to communicable disease, pathogen organism could not survive in a dead body except on some cases that needs special treatment such as death due to cholera or dengue.

How does individual respond to a disaster

1. Immediate individual response ( 24 hours ) Following disater :

• Tense, worried, panic
• Glued, absent-minded, shocked, do not believe it
• Happy or euphoria,
• Tired, confused
• Anxious, crying, isolated, withdrawal
• Feel guilty

2. First until third week post disaster

• Worried, alert, sensitive, easily angry, difficult to sleep
• worried, very sad
• Re-experiencing the event
• Sad
• Remaining positive reactions: expect or think about future, involved activities for help and relief

3. More than three weeks after the disaster
Reaction shown can be permanent and it is indicated with :

• Tired
• Feel Panic
• Continuous sadness, pessimistic and unrealistic thinking
• Do not conduct activities, isolated and withdrawal
• Anxiety which is indicated with physical signs such as palpitations, dizzy, tired, queasy, headache, etc.

4. Response after disaster within the period of more than three weeks

• Some survivors can get acute mental disorder. This may occur from few weeks to several months following the disaster
• Form or disorder includes : acute reaction to stress, sorrow and grieve, diagnosed mental disorder, adaptation disorder
  

Post disaster activity includes recovery

Post disaster activity includes recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruntion.

Activity on post disaster stages aims the recovery process of the effected community by re-functioning the facilities and infrastructures as it was. At this stage we must consider that rehabilitation and reconstruction should fulfill the disaster principles; physical rehabilitation is a must but psychological rehabilitation such as fear, trauma or depression has to be handled also.

Besides that, disaster will effect cruelly the most vulnerable groups like children, women, the elderly and people with physical limitations who need particular attention. Disaster will also give tremendous impact on the health of effected areas. Number of communicable diseases may increase, particularly infectious disease caused by water and soil. In addition, increasing cases of mental illness can be observed. therefore, the comprehensive and sustainable approaches are needed to cope with physical health ( free from physical illness ) and mental health.

Living in vulnerable areas should give us some pressure that we should prepare for such disasters as well as possible. Good and sustainable planning also will make us think rationally in facing disaster situation. This thinking enables to minimize victims and other possible impacts. The community and government need to fully aware that we live in prone area, therefore disaster may srike anytime, suddenly. Disaster mitigation or risk reduction and its anticipative actions are absolute to live side by side with disasters. It also takes strong political will of government to prioritize disaster mitigation program by conducting risk assessment, early warning and preparedness to face disaster and other socialization activities to the community.