委内瑞拉6月24日发生7.2级和7.5级地震，造成5000多人死亡、近17000人受伤、近18000人无家可归[1]。世界银行估计直接物理损害达196亿美元[1]。一个多月后，专家警告该国面临的环境和公共卫生威胁才刚刚开始显现。
地震产生的约120万吨污染瓦砾正在释放有害物质，威胁环境安全[1]。当地卫生专家已确认18种需要立即通报的优先疾病和公共卫生问题，包括腹泻病、呼吸道感染、登革热、疟疾和麻疹等[1]。工作人员中已出现呼吸系统疾病患者，而委内瑞拉的疫苗接种覆盖率在地震前已低于推荐水平[1]。Project HOPE项目主任Carolina de Jesús指出，"尸体的气味在某些地区非常浓烈"[1]。饮用水短缺进一步加剧了疾病传播的风险[1]。
泛美卫生组织流行病学家Dr. Mauricio Cerpa表示，"地震本身不会引起疫情爆发。风险来自灾后条件"[1]。Direct Relief药学副总裁Alycia Clark警告称，"从这一点开始，需求只会增加"[1]。
Venezuela faces mounting public health and environmental hazards more than a month after earthquakes struck the country on June 24. [1] Two successive quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude killed over 5,000 people, injured nearly 17,000, and left close to 18,000 homeless. [1] The World Bank estimates direct physical damages at $19.6 billion. [1]
Among the most pressing concerns is contamination from approximately 1.2 million tons of debris, which is releasing hazardous substances across affected areas. [1] Local health authorities have identified 18 priority communicable diseases and public health conditions requiring immediate reporting, including diarrhea, respiratory infections, dengue fever, malaria, and measles. [1] These disease risks are compounded by shortages of drinking water—a critical factor in disease transmission—and by declining vaccination coverage rates that fell below recommended levels even before the earthquakes struck. [1]
Workers in disaster zones have already begun reporting respiratory illnesses, underscoring the immediate health toll of ongoing exposure to debris and unsanitary conditions. [1] Carolina de Jesús, director of Project HOPE, emphasized the severity of conditions on the ground, noting that "the odor of bodies in certain areas is very strong." [1] Dr. Mauricio Cerpa, an epidemiologist with the Pan American Health Organization, cautioned that "earthquakes themselves do not cause disease outbreaks. The risks come from post-disaster conditions." [1] Alycia Clark, vice president of pharmacy at Direct Relief, warned that "from this point forward, needs will only increase." [1]