Aggressive Lung-Disease Affects Tsunami-Survivors

Six months after the Tsunami-catastrophe in Asia physicians have come across an unusual lung disease, which could be linked to the after-effects of the seaquake. According to Wall Street Magazine the disease affects people who were taken by the tsunami's waves and inhaled saltwater and dispersed mud.

Bacteria from the saltwater combined with slit lead to pneumonia which clinicians say has caused partial brain-damage often leading to paralysis.

Although only a few cases haven been analysed, the physicians believe “Tsunami-lung” might be a widely spread illness.

The disease responds to antibiotic treatment and requires monitoring with sophisticated medical equipment. As the region is not sufficiently provided with such equipment, doctors fear the disease could reach alarming proportions.

Ann Y. Kao, internist and child expert within the region, has heard of at least 50 cases of “Tsunami-lung”. But she suspects that in truth many thousands of people are infected.

Health experts say the consequences of a Cholera or Malaria outbreak after the catastrophe last December would have had far worse effects than an infection with the Tsunami-lung-disease.

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