Outbreaks and Epidemics

Outbreaks and epidemics can cause displacement in several ways, including: 

• Fear of exposure: People may flee to avoid exposure to a virus and becoming ill. For example, during the Ebola epidemic, people fled to escape the virus. 
• Quarantine: Communities may flee quarantine.
• Seeking health care: People may flee to urban areas for better health care if rural areas are not well-served by health outreach workers. 
• Infrastructure damage: Displacement can be caused by infrastructure damage from natural disasters. For example, flooding can contaminate drinking water, leading to diarrheal disease outbreaks.
• Overcrowded shelters: Displaced people are often housed in temporary settlements or camps with overcrowded shelters, which can increase the spread of infectious diseases. 
• Socioeconomic reasons: Displacement can be caused by socioeconomic reasons, such as loss of income during a pandemic. For example, people who rent may be at risk of eviction if they lose income and struggle to pay rent.