Typhoon Haiyan victims face many health risks

A woman washes amid scenes of devastation in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan on November 13, 2013 in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 mph (315 kph), slammed into the southern Philippines and left a trail of destruction in multiple provinces, forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate and making travel by air and land to hard-hit provinces difficult. Around 10,000 people are feared dead in the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.

Basic needs like food, clean water, and shelter are still hard to come by, and, if not addressed soon, this natural health disaster could evolve into a public health threat.

People in the typhoon-ravaged city of Tacloban in the Philippines are still waiting for aid relief from anyone. Speaking to the BBC, resident Jose Agrinalde made a plea to the rest of the world:

"We need massive international aid relief here now. The situation is so desperate we need aid, now."

Basic needs like food, clean water, and shelter are still hard to come by, and, if not addressed soon, this natural health disaster could evolve into a public health threat.

For a look at the health risks that could arise, we're joined by Jesse Bliss, director and disaster response coordinator for Loma Linda University's Center for Public Health Preparedness.