Emergence and containment of zoonoses after disasters

Disasters can never be predicted and they cause heavy economic loss and also loss to lives of humans as well as animals. It destroys the place it strikes and it become difficult for affected population to cope up with the losses with their own resources. Amongst various adversities faced by affected population, the burden of zoonotic diseases is matter of great concern due to their long-term impact. The main predisposing factor and primary cause of concern for the spread of disease is the population displacement. In addition, lack of preparedness, sanitation, safe drinking water and primary health care facilities are also contributory factors for post disaster outbreak of zoonotic diseases. The environment after disasters give ideal conditions for the endemic disease already present in the area to grow into an epidemic proportions. The diseases which are linked to post-disastrous situations can be categorised into water-borne, vector-borne, related to overcrowding and other non-specific causes. This review presents concise information of zoonotic diseases that occurred under various disastrous situations. The containment measures of such diseases are also discussed.