Houston Doctors Say They´ve Contained Virus Outbreak Among Hurricane Evacuees

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St Bernard´s Parish:
"...some have blisters, the colour of their skin is changing."

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Sickness Spreads Among Hurricane Holdouts

Chalmette, Louisiana
(AFP) Sep 08, 2005

Sickness is spreading among residents refusing to leave their homes in the Hurricane Katrina disaster zone, a top police officer in one of the worst hit areas said Thursday.

As police and troops pursued their efforts to persuade people to leave, Chief Deputy Sheriff Anthony Fernandez said "some have blisters, the colour of their skin is changing" in the St Bernard´s Parish his forces are patrolling.

Health experts have also issued strong warnings to the thousands of people who could soon face mandatory expulsion from New Orleans and neighbouring districts.

Five evacuees are reported to have died after coming in contact with a water-borne bacteria, vibrio vulnificus. There have also been widespread outbreaks of diarrhoea in many shelters for storm refugees.

Pointing to the stinking black flood water that remains in the streets, he said "this is becoming methane".

St Bernard´s is where about 30 people were found dead, mainly from heat and dehydration, at the St. Rita´s nursing home, according to media reports.

Fernandez said about 1,000 people were feared dead and at least 1,000 were believed to be still in their homes in St Bernard´s, an eastern suburb of New Orleans with about 70,000 people, and one of the zones worst hit by the August 29 super-storm.

Doctors were most worried about the spread of hepatitis and tetanus and were encouraging people to be vaccinated.

Fernandez said those remaining would have to leave. "It will be a forceable evacuation, it will be mandatory."

Battalion Chief Frank Rommal, who is part of a police and fire department task force from Maryland, said the group had been told "this entire parish will be demolished".

Rommal spoke as the task force went through a mobile home community that two days ago was under 1.0-1.3 metres (three-four feet) of water.

They smashed in doors looking for survivors and bodies.

They mark each house with orange spray paint. "We mark a ´v´ if there is a victim and an ´h´ if there is hazard such as rats, snakes, propane or alligators," he said.

"We are concerned about mosquitoes and the health risk they pose. The biological issues are significant."

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[link to www.terradaily.com]