Health officials wary of health risks

With every natural disaster there are health implications that follow and the current flooding that is affecting most of the country is no different. We spoke to health officials today to find out about the potential threats to health that may come in the wake of the flooding. And as we found out, their major concern has little to do with the amount of water, but rather what’s IN the water.

Mark Bernard, Senior Public Health Inspector, Central Region
“As you know diarrheal diseases are caused by different organisms and bacterial viruses. There are also the possibilities of parasites. Some of these diseases include cholera, although we haven’t had any cases of that in quite a number of years now. There is typhoid fever, there is dysentery, general gastroenteritis, you could have shigellosis. Those are some of the major and more serious ones. But there are many diseases that can result by people drinking contaminated water as usually would happen after a flood. We have been working diligently with other agencies to ensure that the water supplies are chlorinated, that’s’ the first step. Secondly we advise people how to purify water, for example by boiling or by adding chlorine. In this case we are talking about half a teaspoon of chlorine to a five gallon bucket of water. If the water is extra cloudy, you allow it to settle a little bit and the add one teaspoon and you wait for half an hour before you drink it. In addition to that we will also have available on hand chlorine purification tablets.”

“Well, there’s also the threat from people getting hit by debris in flood water. The possibility of electrical shock and also the possibility of coming in contact with alligators and snakes they also looking for somewhere dry to go. And the potential for accidents especially if road is high. But, as you mention, part of the major focus for us is the outbreak of diarrheal diseases. I just want to remind people to consider all flood water to be dangerous loaded with bacteria and virus. Because the sewer system in some cases overflow like in Belize City when it rains and the soak away comes up and so you have that mixture of feces and other matter. So always be careful. If you can avoid walking in flood water you do so.”