Table of contents:
- Flood water contains a lot of bacteria
- These are tips for preventing disease caused by flooding
- 1. Consumption of hygienic food
- 2. Maintain personal hygiene
- 3. Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals
- 4. Apply mosquito repellent
- 5. Make sure to use clean water
- 6. Keep away from standing water
Seeing the conditions of heavy rainfall, it is better to take anticipatory steps to prevent disease caused by flooding. Flood water is contaminated with various bacteria and increases the risk of disease transmission.
In order for the body to stay healthy even in the rainy season which can cause flooding, consider the following tips.
Flood water contains a lot of bacteria
Turbidity of flood water is not only caused by a mixture of mud. There are many microscopic bacteria that are scattered. Not only one bacteria, but there are many types of bacteria that cause various diseases.
Quoting from the OSHA Fact Sheet, the most common disease caused by flooding is indigestion. Flood water contains bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella. There is also the Hepatitis A virus and the microorganisms that cause typhoid, paratyphoid, and tetanus.
Maybe not everyone is responsive to taking measures to prevent the spread of disease when the floods hit. Some of the common symptoms of post-flood disease are as follows.
- diarrhea
- nausea
- gag
- abdominal pain or cramps
- sore muscles
- fever
Apart from attacking the digestive system, there are other diseases that must be watched out for after flooding, such as dengue fever, malaria, and leptospirosis, skin diseases and respiratory infections (ISPA).
Therefore, it is important to apply the right way to prevent disease caused by flooding.
These are tips for preventing disease caused by flooding
Post-flood disease knows no age. Anyone can experience it. There are many bacteria and viruses contaminating flood water that can infect the body. Even so, you can take some of the following disease prevention measures.
1. Consumption of hygienic food
Indigestion problems can easily strike when floods hit, especially contamination through food. So, it's good to keep food hygienic.
For example, cook food until it's cooked and don't snack carelessly. This simple method can minimize disease infection and prevent disease caused by flooding.
2. Maintain personal hygiene
Continue steps to prevent disease caused by floods by maintaining personal hygiene. Don't forget to wash your hands with soap before eating, before cooking, after defecating, or after doing activities from outside. Because bacterial infections can easily be transmitted from hand to hand or from contaminated objects.
3. Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals
Always try to eat foods rich in nutrients to support the body's immune system in warding off disease through consumption of vitamins A, C, and D, as well as the mineral zinc. You can get it from a variety of vegetables and fruits.
One of the diseases that often occurs during floods is dengue fever. You can also consume guava or guava. The content of vitamin C in it plays an important role in supporting the immune system, and fighting viral and bacterial infections.
4. Apply mosquito repellent
Dengue fever is a disease that is very likely to infect you during the rainy season. This disease can be transmitted through the Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with the dengue virus.
Therefore, always apply anti-mosquito repellent that is BPOM-certified when you are on the move outside or indoors. Also, don't forget to wear long sleeves and long pants. Apply these preventive steps to avoid disease.
5. Make sure to use clean water
Source: NRDC
In the flood season, make sure you keep using clean water when cooking food, bathing, brushing your teeth, and drinking water. As a precaution, try boiling water to a boil to kill germs, and do a special water disinfection before using the water.
6. Keep away from standing water
Leptospirosis, a common disease after flooding. Transmission is caused by Leptospira bacteria in soil and water. Usually caused by infected animals, such as rats, horses, pigs, and others.
Many mice hide in holes, as well as drains. As soon as the flood came, many rats were also caught in the floodwaters. Therefore, it is better to stay away from floodwaters to avoid leptospirosis infection.
Cover open wounds with a waterproof bandage or bandage. Don't forget to wear closed clothes, rubber shoes, or gloves if needed when the floods hit. This method can help you prevent disease caused by flooding.
