Infectious diseases can emerge in Iran's quake-hit-region

The area in Iran's East Azerbaijan province that is still recovering from earlier earthquakes can contain infectious diseases, Head of Iran's Ministry of Emergency Gholamreza Masumi said, ILNA reported.

Masumi noted that the post-quake area has problems with health security, it lacks toilets, and there is a risk of catching an infection by drinking bottled water.

He added that there is also a large number of dead bodies of cattle floating in the rivers, adding to the overal insanitariness of the area.

The quake first hit Iran on August 11. Since then the death toll has risen to 306 people, about 2,500 were injured.

Earlier today another earthquake hit the East Azerbaijani province of Iran.

The quake occured at approximately 6:27 on Monday morning in East Azerbaijan's Varzagan city.

Head of Iranian Ministry of Health's Department of Food and Water Hossein Masumi said a special team has been dispatched to the quake-affected area, which is being checked for possible diseases and infestions.

Hossein Masumi noted that thus far no reports on possible infections have been reported.

If such occurs, he added, necessary measures will be taken immediately.

First Vice-President of Iran Mohammad-Reza Rahimi is currently in East Azerbaijani province assessing th cost of damages done to the houses in the area.

At the Tabriz airport, Rahimi said the houses affected by the quakes will be re-contructed within the next two months.

Despite the number of victims of the Saturday earthquake, the Islamic Republic on Sunday rejected foreign aid for the quake victims.


/Trend/