Health expert advises people against exposure to flood water
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 31 2024: Saying that flood water contains microscopic organisms like viruses and bacteria which can cause water-borne diseases, Consultant Physician at SHIJA Hospitals Dr Javed Malik has advised the people to not walk through flood water unnecessarily.

Speaking to The Sangai Express about diseases which are common during and after flood, Dr Javed appealed to the people to stay safe and not play or walk through flood water unnecessarily as an outbreak of infectious water-borme diseases at this point of time could be disastrous.

He also said that chances of outbreak of typhoid cholera, hepatitis A and E, skin diseases and other water-borne diseases are higher during floods.

Stating that diarrhoea, vomiting and fever are some of the common symptoms of water-borne diseases, the doctor advised the people to consult doctors if they develop any of these symptoms.

Paraphrasing the popular proverb "Prevention is better than cure, Dr Javed further advised the people to wash themselves with a clean water, if possible mixed with disinfectant like Dettol, and a soap if they come into contact with a floodwater.

Dr Javed went on to appeal to the people to always boil their drinking water and wash the vegetables and fruits with clean water before eating them.

Boil the drinking water for at least five or 10 minutes and cool them, he advised and said that people can also use filtered water to stay safe.

Always keep the foods covered, he further said.

"We should do whatever we can to not get sick especially during floods," Dr Javed continued and advised the people to not use flood water for cleaning utensils, cooking, brushing, bathing etc.

He reiterated that people should stay away or walk through floodwater as much as possible as exposure to contaminated water, no matter how small, is very dangerous.

Don't let the children play in floodwater and if they do bathe/wash them properly with clean water, he added.

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