By Emma Sturgis
During the rainy season, there are a number of common health hazards one can face, like cholera, mosquito infestation and food poisoning. While illness and injury can be common in the rainy season, there are a number of highly effective things you can do to protect yourself from these health hazards. The following are a few of the most common rainy season dangers and how to prevent illness from them:
Flooding
The major risk associated with flooding is contamination of the water supply. The risk of water contamination can be extremely high if sewage if the spill from treatment plants finds its way into nearby rivers or reservoirs. In flooding scenarios, people are often forced to drink water from local, underground water sources. The water supply becomes contaminated with sources that cause outbreaks of diseases like typhoid or cholera. Other water-borne diseases can include dermatitis, conjunctivitis and nose, ear and throat infections. While these diseases may not cause infection on a mass scale, they are accompanied by painful symptoms and can have dangerous complications.
Mosquito Infestation
In the aftermath of flooding and intense storms and rain, mosquitoes can quickly breed. Standing water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitos, as moist soil can host dormant mosquito eggs for days, months, or years before they hatch. Additional rainfall can complete the hatching process, which usually takes place within a week of the fresh rainfall. If you experience a mosquito infestation, a few do it yourself pest control methods can protect you from the discomfort and illness associated with mosquito bites. A pest control expert from Solutions Self Chem recommends not only spraying for mosquitos, but preventing their breeding by removing any sources of standing water in your surrounding area. These include, but are not limited to, garbage cans, buckets, spare tires and flooded garden beds.
Food Poisoning
Flooding during the rainy season can contaminate food, which can develop harmful bacteria like salmonella or E-coli. Illness symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, chills, fevers and diarrhea. Recovery under medical care can take from 12 to 48 hours. The risk of food poisoning can be reduced by thoroughly cleaning dishes and hands before handling food and cooking all animal products thoroughly before consumption.
Spread of Disease
Floods can bring about disaster, especially in warm and humid climates. Damaged areas can be quickly infected as a result of contaminated water. The incubation period between exposure to contaminants and symptom manifestation can be a few days or several weeks. Symptoms can include fevers, cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In developing countries, many of the affected are children who die from dehydration, malnutrition and lack of proper medical care.
An Unclean Environment
A flood can quickly pollute an entire region by killing crops and becoming a breeding grown for life-threatening bacteria and diseases. The best defense is knowing what to expect and do before, during and after a rainy season.
It is wise to prepare for flooding, especially if living in a disaster-prone area. For help with this, FEMA provides comprehensive information on how to prepare and cleanup, rebuild and occupy a home or area after a flooding disaster.