Major health problems in Myanmar, which are most likely to be exacerbated by this crisis, relate predominantly to communicable diseases (malaria, dengue, measles) and malnutrition, especially in children. As of 2003, 40% of children under five were assessed as being stunted, indicating chronic malnutrition and 10% as being wasted (acute malnutrition) (UNICEF). Major causes of death are usually due to malaria, respiratory and diarrhoeal diseases. Given the structural damage caused by the cyclone and flooding of water supplies there is an additional risk of waterborne diseases affecting large numbers of the urban,.
