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Disease outbreaks likely within days, U.N. official says

The Associated Press
Updated: 12:54 p.m. ET Dec. 29, 2004

GENEVA - The United Nations warned Wednesday that respiratory and waterborne diseases could break out in areas affected by southern Asia’s tsunami disaster “in the next few days.”

Although relief organizations are distributing medical supplies to prevent the outbreak of disease, the main focus is still on dealing with the wounded, said Jamie McGoldrick, an emergency relief coordinator of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva.

“Diseases will start to come through in the next few days,” McGoldrick told the Associated Press. “No doubt people will be affected, kids are drinking stagnant water.”

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