Public Health Expert Available to Talk About Health Risks Following Katrina

Newswise — In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the public health risks are growing exponentially. On Wednesday, the Bush Administration declared a public health emergency for the entire Gulf Coast to help prevent the spread of disease and provide medical care. René J. Sánchez, M.D., assistant professor of community medicine at Mercer University School of Medicine, is available to talk with the media about what the health risks are and what hurricane and flood victims should do. A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Dr. Sánchez says the number one health concern is contaminated water, which can cause hepatitis, dysentery and other intestinal infections. He recommends that victims of Katrina stay hydrated and avoid consuming contaminated foods and water. Dr. Sánchez, who retired from the Air Force in 1999 and has a master's degree in public health from the University of Washington School of Public Health, has extensive experience with general preventive medicine and teaches a segment on disaster preparedness in the Master of Public Health program at Mercer.