Diseases after floods should not be underestimated. GIS warns of the threat

Chorób po powodzi

Floodwater still hasn’t receded everywhere, but tragic consequences are already being discussed in areas affected by river overflows. The Chief Sanitary Inspectorate draws attention to the risk of serious diseases developing after floods. Current recommendations for areas affected by heavy rainfall include a ban on drinking water from taps and wells, as well as stricter hygiene standards. Are we at risk of local epidemics?

How do diseases spread after a flood?

In an interview with the Polish Press Agency, GIS spokesman Marek Waszczewski warned residents of flood-affected areas about the contamination and microorganisms carried by the floodwater. Domestic sewage, which contains human waste potentially contaminated with pathogens, poses a particular threat. The most dangerous post-flood diseases include salmonellosis, typhoid fever, dysentery, and hepatitis A. There is also a risk of fecal bacteria and E. coli bacteria spreading, causing gastrointestinal infections. Harmful substances washed from fields or industrial plants are also a health risk.

According to the GIS statement, direct contact with all porous materials that have come into contact with floodwater should also be avoided. Wells require cleaning and disinfection, and their use is only possible after testing their potability. As for the safety of tap water, the situation is monitored by district sanitary-epidemiological stations. The Ministry of Health also advises disposing of any food and medication that has come into contact with floodwater.

The risk is very significant

The scale of the health risks associated with post-flood diseases is considerable. The GIS spokesman appealed to report any injuries sustained during flood cleanup efforts to a doctor to receive tetanus prevention. Dr. Paweł Gresiowski, Chief Sanitary Inspector, also announced that intervention vaccinations among certain social groups are being considered.

Scientific studies show that in the first 10 days after a flood, skin infections, pneumonia, viral respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal problems are the most common. It is only later that cases of hepatitis A and E, as well as leptospirosis, are reported. The latter is a zoonotic infection, and while it is most commonly observed in tropical countries, it has appeared after heavy rains in Bulgaria in 2010 and 2014, in Germany in 2007, and in the Czech Republic after the 1997 flood.

In 2021, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned of infections caused by noroviruses, rotaviruses, E. coli bacteria, and Campylobacter, various strains of salmonella, and even parasites causing giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis after floods in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Climate change promotes the development of waterborne diseases, and the warm weather forecasted for next week in southern Poland is a significant risk factor for the multiplication of pathogens.

Moisture will bring mold

The appearance of infectious diseases after floods can also be delayed. Damp materials are an excellent breeding ground for mold, whose spores contaminate the air and can enter the respiratory system. Dr. Grażyna Cholewińska-Szymańska, deputy director of the Warsaw Infectious Diseases Hospital, confirmed in an interview with “Rzeczpospolita” that inhaling mold and fungi in damp buildings can lead to the development of systemic mycosis, most often affecting the lungs. Experience gathered after hurricanes in the United States also shows that exposure to toxins and allergens released by mold can lead to the development of acute and chronic diseases, including asthma.

GIS has prepared a detailed guide on cleaning and disinfecting flooded rooms. It lists structural elements and materials that must be disposed of due to high health risks.

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