BLOG WRITING

’Malaysia increased flood mitigation efforts after suffering one of its worst periods of monsoon flooding last year. The government estimated losses of 1.2 billion ringgit (US$343 million; euro233 million) to repair roads and schools, and in aid to flood victims’

Above statement tells that natural disaster in Malaysia such as floods make an tremendous impact on the environment and society. Floods are not only troublesome and life wrecking, they are known to increase the transmission of water-borne disease and vector-borne disease. Normally it causes trauma and deep emotional disturbance to the flood victims.

It can also lead to epidemics water-borne and vector-borne diseases comes from contamination of water. Clean drinking water becomes scarce and creating an unhygienic conditions which lead of spreading of water-borne diseases.
Other flood – related diseases which are not mentioned in the article is Amoebiasis related with Entamoeba histolytica which. It is an anaerobic parasitic protozoan, part of the genus Entamoeba. It infects predominantly humans and other primates. It is estimated that about 50 million people are infected with the parasite worldwide. The active (trophozoite) stage exists only in the host and in fresh loose feces; cysts survive outside the host in water, soils and on foods, especially under moist conditions on the latter. When cysts are swallowed they cause infections by excysting (releasing the trophozoite stage) in the digestive tract.

E. histolytica, as its name suggests (histo–lytic = tissue destroying), causes disease; infection can lead to amoebic dysentery or amoebic liver abscess. Symptoms can include fulminating dysentery, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain, and amebomas. The amoeba can actually 'bore' into the intestinal wall, causing lesions and intestinal symptoms, and it may reach the blood stream. From there, it can reach different vital organs of the human body, usually the liver, but sometimes the lungs, brain, spleen, etc. A common outcome of this invasion of tissues is a liver abscess, which can be fatal if untreated. Ingested red blood cells are sometimes seen in the amoeba cell cytoplasm.
It can be diagnosed by stool samples but it is important to note that certain other species are impossible to distinguish by microscopy alone. Trophozoites may be seen in a fresh fecal smear and cysts in an ordinary stool sample. ELISA or RIA can also be used.
The ways to curb Amoebiasis is besides moving to a safe area, you should only drink boiled chlorinated water. Don’t drink water from rivers or wells after a flood. Make sure your food is prepare with the same water. Wash your hands if you touch contaminated water.

(H - Hishamuddin Ahmad G74467)