However, last Wednesday’s flash floods in the Western city of Jeddah brought the rainwater to both those who wished to frolic in it and those who had no intention of getting wet. When the natural disaster occurred, not only were many caught off guard, but the addition of inadequate warning and an unfamiliarity of how to best cope with the emergency situation left many in dire danger.
Of course, the obvious solution is to reduce the possibility of flooding through a solid infrastructure and an operating sewage system. Since neither currently exist, the best alternative is to be prepared for when it happens again.
We may not be able to control when a flood occurs, but we can minimize its impact on the well-being of its victims through both preventive measures and appropriate post-treatment.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), water-borne diseases, such as Typhoid Fever, Cholera, Leptospirosis and Hepatitis A, as well as vector-borne diseases, such as Malaria, Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, Yellow Fever, and West Nile Fever are all concerns after flooding.
Water-born illnesses present symptoms such as diarrhea and fever. Both children and the elderly should seek medical evaluation early to avoid dehydration and get proper treatment in a timely manner.
“Recently, Cholera outbreaks occurred in both Pakistan and Haiti following floods,” stated Lina Bissar, MD, a Consultant Internist and Deputy Chairperson of the Department of Medicine at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah.
Cholera, a bacterial disease that attacks the intestinal tract, causes diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Cholera tends to have a higher incidence rate in areas that lack safe drinking water and proper sewage and sanitation facilities. “Although I am not aware of cases of Cholera related to the recent floods, there is still a potential concern,” Bissar warned.
“Whenever there is static water in Jeddah, there is the threat of Dengue fever due to the increased number of mosquitoes through larvae hatching,” stated Bissar. She explained that Dengue fever, which is passed via mosquito bite, has been reported in Jeddah since 2001, with a consistently substantial increase in the number of reported diagnosed cases after episodes of rainfall.
“The government has responded to the rise in diagnosed cases of Dengue fever for the past years by spraying pesticides,” stated Bissar. Unfortunately, there is currently no vaccine for Dengue fever.
“Prevention is key here,” explained Bissar. “Avoid contact with floodwater, which may be potentially contaminated, and protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing and applying commercially available mosquito repellents (DEET).”
Bissar always warns that skin wounds need to be immediately cleaned and treated appropriately. “People are not realizing the health concerns that can arise during a period of flooding,” stated Rema Arafat, RN. “Volunteers and relief workers going out to affected areas need to be cautious. The threat is not over because it has stopped raining.”
It is important that these people avoid contact with potentially contaminated water and do their best to avoid personal injury, advised Bissar. “As a physician interested in health maintenance and prevention, I would advise readers to update their vaccine status for all vaccines. Many people get recommended vaccines as children, and then neglect to get vaccines once they are adults.”
Arafat continued Bissar’s sentiment: “According to current Canadian Public Health policies, routine tetanus vaccination is recommended for males and females every 10 years,” she said.
In fact, more adults are afflicted by tetanus, or “locked jaw,” every year than children simply because they are not vaccinated. “During the flooding, there’s an increased risk of infection through potential cuts from contaminated sharp objects, such as broken glass, wood, and other debris,” warned Arafat. People should check their immunization history to see if a tetanus booster is required.
Below, Bissar tells Arab News how to prepare for a flood and what immediate actions one should take should one occur.
