In Case Of Flood
During the northeast monsoon months of November and December, two main spells of heavy continuous monsoon rain causes floods in many areas in Peninsular Malaysia, such as Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu, Kedah and the latest, Johor. The floods also results in cancellation of flights and train services for several days, hundreds of hectares of paddy fields ruined, houses swept away and damage. It also causes trauma and deep emotional disturbance to the flood victims.
There are a few diseases that are related to floods. The most common flood-related diseases are infectious diseases such as gastrointestinal infections, conjunctivitis, dermatitis, leptospirosis and vector-borne disease such as dengue and malaria.
Gastrointestinal infection is the inflammation of the stomach and intestine and usually due to acute infection by viruses or bacteria such as Salmonella typhi, Eshericheria coli and Vibrio cholerae. These diseases are caused by contamination of drinking water and foods. The symptoms of gastrointestinal infections are fever, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach ache. Conjunctivitis is the infection of the eye also known as red eye disease. The eye becomes red and swollen and produces a watery or pus-containing discharge. It is caused by infection of bacteria or viruses, allergy or physical or chemical irritation. Dermatitis is a disease which can cause irritation of the skin. Leptospirosis is a disease that can be contracted through the skin or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes), cause by the urine of rodents that contaminate the water.
All the diseases mentioned above are due to contaminated of flood waters with fecal material and toxics wastes from overflowing sewage systems, agricultural and industrial by-products.
The vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria are transmitted by mosquitoes. Dengue is a viral disease that occurs throughout the tropics and subtropics areas. It is transmitted to humans principally by the mosquito Aedes. Malaria is an infectious disease due to presence of parasitic protozoa of the genus plasmodium within the red blood cells. The disease is transmitted by Anopheles mosquito. The risk of mosquito disease outbreaks greatly increase during heavy rainfall whereby stagnant water encourages mosquito to breed, especially when the flood water recede.
Other common flood-related diseases which are not being mentioned in this article are ear, nose and throat infections, which cause by direct contact, not by drinking contaminated water and they can lead flu, cough and sore-throat. Disease outbreaks are also affected by overcrowding, the underlying health status of individuals and the availability of health care services
The best ways to curb the vector-borne disease such as dengue is to make sure to clean up all things when returning to flooded homes. Also clean up drains and areas with stagnant water. Destroy all the mosquito breeding areas. Always sleep under mosquito net and use aerosols to kill mosquitoes. Hospitals and health authorities are to be directed to check through all flood victims showing signs and early symptoms of these diseases such as fever, headache, severe pain in the joints and muscles and an irritating rash and get an early treatment for these cases.
During the northeast monsoon months of November and December, two main spells of heavy continuous monsoon rain causes floods in many areas in Peninsular Malaysia, such as Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu, Kedah and the latest, Johor. The floods also results in cancellation of flights and train services for several days, hundreds of hectares of paddy fields ruined, houses swept away and damage. It also causes trauma and deep emotional disturbance to the flood victims.
There are a few diseases that are related to floods. The most common flood-related diseases are infectious diseases such as gastrointestinal infections, conjunctivitis, dermatitis, leptospirosis and vector-borne disease such as dengue and malaria.
Gastrointestinal infection is the inflammation of the stomach and intestine and usually due to acute infection by viruses or bacteria such as Salmonella typhi, Eshericheria coli and Vibrio cholerae. These diseases are caused by contamination of drinking water and foods. The symptoms of gastrointestinal infections are fever, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach ache. Conjunctivitis is the infection of the eye also known as red eye disease. The eye becomes red and swollen and produces a watery or pus-containing discharge. It is caused by infection of bacteria or viruses, allergy or physical or chemical irritation. Dermatitis is a disease which can cause irritation of the skin. Leptospirosis is a disease that can be contracted through the skin or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes), cause by the urine of rodents that contaminate the water.
All the diseases mentioned above are due to contaminated of flood waters with fecal material and toxics wastes from overflowing sewage systems, agricultural and industrial by-products.
The vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria are transmitted by mosquitoes. Dengue is a viral disease that occurs throughout the tropics and subtropics areas. It is transmitted to humans principally by the mosquito Aedes. Malaria is an infectious disease due to presence of parasitic protozoa of the genus plasmodium within the red blood cells. The disease is transmitted by Anopheles mosquito. The risk of mosquito disease outbreaks greatly increase during heavy rainfall whereby stagnant water encourages mosquito to breed, especially when the flood water recede.
Other common flood-related diseases which are not being mentioned in this article are ear, nose and throat infections, which cause by direct contact, not by drinking contaminated water and they can lead flu, cough and sore-throat. Disease outbreaks are also affected by overcrowding, the underlying health status of individuals and the availability of health care services
The best ways to curb the vector-borne disease such as dengue is to make sure to clean up all things when returning to flooded homes. Also clean up drains and areas with stagnant water. Destroy all the mosquito breeding areas. Always sleep under mosquito net and use aerosols to kill mosquitoes. Hospitals and health authorities are to be directed to check through all flood victims showing signs and early symptoms of these diseases such as fever, headache, severe pain in the joints and muscles and an irritating rash and get an early treatment for these cases.
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