Question

Identify the true statements regarding factors that can trigger or contribute to epidemics.

1. Epidemics are primarily a result of deliberate human actions and rarely linked to natural occurrences.
2. Natural disasters such as tropical storms and floods can often lead to conditions conducive to epidemic outbreaks.
3. Prolonged droughts can contribute to epidemics by affecting water sources and hygiene.
4. Earthquakes, due to their localized impact, have no significant role in the emergence of epidemics.

• A. iii
• B. i, iii
• C. ii, iii
• D. i, iv

Answer 1

Answer:

C. ii, iii

• Disasters, both natural and man-made, often create environments where infectious diseases can thrive and spread rapidly. Floods can contaminate water supplies, leading to outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera. Earthquakes and other humanitarian crises can disrupt sanitation, health services, and displacement of populations, leading to overcrowding and poor hygiene, all of which facilitate disease transmission. Droughts can force populations to rely on unsafe water sources and lead to malnutrition, weakening immune systems and increasing vulnerability to illness. Therefore, disaster preparedness often includes epidemic prevention strategies.