Blog Assignment

A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land, a deluge.It is usually due to the volume of water within a body of water, such as a river or lake, excedding the total capacity of the body, and as a result some of the water overflow or sits outside of the normal perimeter of the body. It can also occur in rivers, when the strength of the riveris so high, it flows right out of the river channel usually at corners or meanders. These of course, are not applicable in such as sea flooding.

The 2006-2007 Malaysian floods are a series of floods that hit Malaysia. The floods were caused by above average rainfall, which was attributed to Typhoon Utor which had hit the Philippines and Vietnam a few days earlier. By the third week of January 2007, Johor was hit by a larger flood. Singapore and certain parts of Indonesia were flooded due to the same typhoon.

Throughout the week of December 18, 2006,. a series of floods hit Johor, Malacca, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan. During this period, these southern Malaysian states, along with Singapore, experienced abnormal rainfall which resulted in massive floods. The rainfall recorded in the city of Johor Baharu on December 19, 2006, amounts to 289mm when the annual rainfall of the city alone is 2400mm. In Singapore the 24-hour rainfall recorded on December 20, was 366 mm, the third highest recorded rainfall in 75 years. The flooding began when torrential downpours since Sunday caused rivers and dams to overflow

The flood can causes physical damage likes houses, road, shop get damaged and landslides may be occur due to the flood. Secondary effect from the flooding are contamination of water, unhygienic condition , spreading of waterbourne disease and shortage of food supply. We may be loss of loved ones when we don’t taking attention of the flood effect.

The waterbourne disease can spread to the victims like gastroenteritis, cholera, eyes and noses infection, viral infection, thyphoid fever

The tables below shows caused of the diseases:
Waterbourne Disease & Causes
1. Gastroenteritis :Shigella spp
2. Cholera: Vibrio cholerae
3. Eyes and noses infection: Streptococcus spp, staphylococus spp
4. Viral Infection fever: Virus Influenza
5. Thyphoid Fever: Salmonella spp
6. Amoebiasis Parasitic: Entamoeba histolytica
7. Giardiasis Protozoan:Giardia lamblia

In the blog, my choice waterborne diseases is Giardiasis. So I wants explain about the disease. Giardiasis (also known as beaver fever) is a disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Giardia lamblia (also sometimes called Giardia intestinalis and Giardia duodenalis). The giardia organism inhabits the digestive tract of a wide variety of domestic and wild animal species, including humans. It is a common cause of gastroenteritis in humans. Giardiasis is passed via the fecal-oral route. Primary routes are personal contact and contaminated water and food. People who spend time in institutional or day-care environments are more susceptible, as are travelers and those who consume improperly treated water. Giardia is suspected to be zoonotic (communicable between animals and humans). Major reservoir hosts would include beavers, dogs, cats.

The syptoms of the diseases include loss of appetite, lethargy, fever, explosive diarrhea, loose or watery stool, stomach cramps, upset stomach, projectile vomiting (uncommon), bloating, and flatulence. Symptoms typically begin 1–2 weeks after infection and may wane and reappear cyclically. Symptoms are caused largely by the thick coating of Giardia organisms coating the inside of the small intestine and blocking nutrient absorption. Most people are asymptomatic; only about a third of infected people exhibit symptoms. Untreated, symptoms may last for six weeks or longer

The diagnosis of Giardiasis is stool microscopy. This can be for motile trophozoites or for the distinctive oval G.lamblia cysts. The entero-test uses a gelatin capsule with an attached thread. One end is attached to the inner aspect of the patient's cheek, and the capsule is swallowed. Later the thread is withdrawn and shaken in saline to release trophozoites which can be detected microscopically. A new immunologic test referred to as ELISA, (enzyme linked immnosorbent assay) is now available. These tests are capable of a 90 percent detection rate or more.

Drugs used to treat adults include metronidazole, albendazole and quinacrine. Furazolidone and nitrazoxanite may be used in children. Treatment is not always necessary, as the body can defeat the infection by itself.The drug tinidazole can treat giardiasis in a single treatment of 2000 mg, instead of the longer treatment of the other medications listed. The shorter duration of treatment may also cause less patient distress. Tinidazole is now approved by the FDA and available to U.S. patients. The supplement barberry (Berberis vulgaris) can also be helpful in treating Giardiasis

How to prevent from the disease? To help prevent the spread of giardiasis around the home: You must wash hands thoroughly with soap and hot running water for at least 10 seconds after using the toilet or changing a baby's diaper, and before handling food. Clean bathrooms and toilets often. Pay particular attention to toilet seats and taps. Avoid sharing towels or face washers.

To help prevent infection: You must avoid raw vegetables when in endemic areas as they may have been fertilized using human feces and drink the boil water or treated water. The vegetables must be wash and use treated water. Get urgent treatment in the hospital if you suspect, you are infection of giardiasis. Sterilization like boiling, filtering, and chlorination of water can kill the protozoan produced by giardiasis patients and prevent infections from spreading. Water filtration, chlorination, and boiling are by far the most effective means of halting transmission.

Treatment of general sewage before it enters the waterways or underground water supplies prevents undiagnosed patients from spreading the disease. Warnings about giardiasis contamination posted around contaminated water sources with directions on how to decontaminate the water. Health Officers must gave more information and checking the health status of the flooding victims and status cleanliness of water and foods supplies times to times.

From:
Mohd Norazlan bin Abd Karim
G74476
FSKB Biomedic (Executive Programme)