International health experts are warning that disease could soon exacerbate the devastation wrought by last weekend's cyclone in Myanmar. Flooding and broken pipes have let sewage, toxic chemicals, and groundwater mix with drinking water, a situation that can breed disease-causing bacteria and insects. Hepatitis A, diarrhea, malaria, typhoid, and salmonella are all seen as threats; so is tetanus, which can result as people injure themselves sorting through their ruined homes. A spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders said the charity's first task is to address the 16,000 HIV/AIDS patients it is treating; then it must deal with its own partially collapsed clinic in Yangon. Making the situation even worse, Myanmar's ruling military regime has blocked international relief workers' access to the disaster zone.

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