Japan's killer tsunami: Will epidemic hit next?
(CBS) Toppled buildings, raging fires, and gushing floods.
Those are often just the initial dangers that come with natural disasters like the 8.9-magnitude monster quake that hit Japan on Friday, spreading devastation and killing hundreds.
PICTURES - Tsunami: 10 health threats that could come next
Tsunamis create unsanitary health conditions that breed diseases, including deadly ones like cholera, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flooding can cause contamination of food and drinking water, and attract disease-carrying animals and insects.
And then there are the psychological wounds that often come in the aftermath of natural disasters. After the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, for example, adults and children showed elevated rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Check out our slide show below outlining the potential health dangers from a natural disaster like the massive earthquake in Japan.
