Floods increased the risk of infectious diseases, how to avoid?

 Floods increased the risk of infectious diseases, how to avoid?

With the onset of monsoon, floods and landslides have increased rapidly in various places in Nepal including Kathmandu. But the Department of Water and Meteorology was also giving warnings of such risks. During such calamities, the first priority is always hay, shelter and cotton for the displaced. This is also natural. But after such natural disasters, the risk of health epidemics is always high.

Especially during floods, the possibility of spreading waterborne diseases is high. Diseases like cholera, typhoid, E.coli, leptospirosis, viral hepatitis A and E, skin infections are caused by water. But apart from these diseases, many infections that show symptoms of diarrhea and fever but are not confirmed are also more likely to appear during such disasters. In Nepal, there is also a flood of unconfirmed infections with symptoms of diarrhea and fever.

cholera

This disease is caused by the bacteria called 'Vibrio cholera'. This bacterium, which has been seen in Nepal for decades and has caused significant human damage in the past, is still being seen in various parts of the country, including Kathmandu. In the case of complicated/severe cholera, which can spread rapidly, the patient may even die if not treated within a few hours. The main symptoms of cholera are watery diarrhea, vomiting, muscle spasms (especially in the legs). But the certainty of the disease is only after stool culture.

Most of the people infected with cholera do not have severe symptoms or are asymptomatic, but such infected people can transmit the bacteria to others even up to 10 days after being infected. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to safe water and personal hygiene to prevent cholera from spreading further. Cholera vaccine is available but most people in Nepal do not know about it.

Typhoid

Typhoid is caused by the bacteria called 'Salmonella Typhi'. This is a well-known disease in Nepal. Even now, the practice of thinking that it is fever or typhoid is still seen in Nepali society. This bacteria is mainly transmitted and spread through contaminated water and food. Its main symptoms include high fever, nausea, stomach ache, headache/stomach ache, constipation or loose stools, and in some cases red rash.

The death of the patient may be due to internal bleeding if not treated at the time. To avoid this disease, one should pay attention to clean water, food and personal hygiene. Although the vaccine against typhoid is available, many people do not seem to take it. Interestingly, the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine was tested in Nepal.

Ecolai

For the last few years, this bacteria has been continuously seen in the drinking water available in Nepal. Astech species of E.coli bacteria are considered to be the most complex E.coli. It can also cause kidney failure. Even though E. coli has been seen in the drinking water of jars in Nepal for the past few years, there is no public confirmation of the species. Symptoms may appear three to eight days after infection. Symptoms such as loose stools mixed with blood, fever, vomiting and stomach upset can be seen in the infected. Research conducted in different countries has shown that echoes are also widespread when there is a flood.

Leptospirosis

This is a disease caused by the bacteria 'Leptospira'. Studies conducted in different countries show that this is especially visible during floods. This bacteria is spread through the urine of infected animals, especially infected mice. This bacteria can survive in soil and water for months.

'Leptospira' bacteria is spread through cut skin, nose, mouth, eyes and also by using infected food or water. Symptoms appear two to 30 days after infection. The first of the two stages of symptoms may include fever, joint pain, nausea and vomiting. Many people are cured of the disease in the first stage, but if the patient enters the second stage, complications may arise. In the second stage, it affects the kidneys, liver and brain. If identified and treated in time, the disease can be completely cured.

Viral hepatitis A and E

Commonly known as 'jaundice', the disease is viral hepatitis. But jaundice is one of the symptoms of viral hepatitis. Hepatitis A and E are spread mainly through contaminated water. In Nepal, both of these hepatitises are seen mostly in summer and rainy season.

Fever, loss of interest in food, stomach discomfort, brown stools, black urine and yellowing of the whites of the eyes are the main symptoms of hepatitis A. But many people suspect that they are infected only when the white part of the eye turns yellow. The symptoms of hepatitis E are similar to those of hepatitis A. But the mortality rate of hepatitis E in infected pregnant women is found to be up to 30 percent.

Skin infections

There is a big problem of skin disease in flooded areas in the world. A few years ago, the writer visited a health camp in a flood-affected area of ​​the Terai and saw a high incidence of skin disease. Various researches have shown that skin problems are caused by various infections and chemicals mixed with floods. Complications can be avoided if treated in time.

Overall, since the risk of an epidemic of infection spreading after a flood is always high, it is very important that the attention of the relevant agencies goes to the management of clean and safe water. Flood-affected or displaced people are also very important to be aware of personal hygiene. element While the risk of water-borne diseases is high during the period, the risk of insect-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and scrub typhus may increase.