JEDDAH: With the waters beginning to dry up following Wednesday’s downpour, medical professionals are warning of health dangers from bacterial contaminates to disease-bearing mosquitoes that could be present in stagnant rainwater around Jeddah streets.
“Children thinking they have found a new place to play should think again,” said Dr. Wafa Redwan, pediatrician at Hessa Bint Bin Laden Polyclinic in Jeddah, adding that parents should keep children away from the tainted water as much as possible.
“Life-threatening bacteria such as E. coli and parasites could be lurking in the water left over from overflowing septic tanks and a lack of a proper sewage and drainage system,” she said.
“People can be exposed if the water comes in contact with their eyes, nose, or enters their mouths and could even cause skin infections if the water splashes on the feet or legs,” she said.
The best thing to do is to find other activities for children besides playing outdoors until the puddles have had a chance to evaporate,” Redwan recommended.
According to the US-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC), another possible health hazard is when the tainted water or hazardous materials such as chemicals from petrol stations, construction sites or workshops mix with rainwater and flow into wells and underground reservoirs contaminating water supplies for individual homes and apartment buildings.
“The best way to deal with unclean water supplies is to use bottled water or boil tap water before use,” a CDC statement said.
A higher risk of disease could also come from an increase in the population of mosquitoes that now have the perfect place to incubate and multiply in the puddles.
“We have noticed that there is an increase in mosquito numbers the last few days as we have been picnicking during the Eid holidays,” said Saleh Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi father of four.
“The level of mosquitoes concerns me but I believe things are under control because I have been seeing warning advertisements at clinics against encephalitis sponsored by the Ministry of Health, which is trying to create awareness among the public,” he said.
