Kerala Floods: 7 Diseases and Health Problems That The State Needs To Watch Out For

The flood situation in Kerala has slightly alleviated after the torrential rains that took over 200 lives have abated for the time being. With over one million people displaced, the state is now working towards rehabilitating them in the aftermath of the disaster. From the looks of it, the worst seems to be over in the flood-ravaged state. But health officials are already sounding alarm bells, warning of a second crisis that could arise out of the ashes of the tragedy. Kerala state is now bracing for a potential health crisis seen commonly after flooding. Heart-Rending Videos of Kerala Floods That Show Both Devastation and Hope in the Rain-Ravaged State

According to the World Health Organization, flooding is associated with an increased risk of infection. This risk increases if there is significant displacement of population and contamination of water sources. Centre of Diseases Prevention and Control states that rates of diseases that were present may increase after the flood due to overcrowding and decreased sanitation. Here’s a lowdown on potential health situation that Kerala may face in the aftermath of the floods.

Common Health Problems After Floods

#1 Gastrointestinal Diseases

“Gastrointestinal diseases are a common health outcome of floods,” Dr Om Srivastava, infectious disease and immunology expert weighs in. Floods can cause outbreaks of gastroenteritis due to disruption of the sewage system and contamination of drinking water. “E.coli infections, diarrhoea, dysentery and dehydration can be expected in the state,” he says. Another serious disease that can rear its head during such times is cholera. Kerala Rains 2018: 11 Pictures That Show the Plight of the Flood-Hit Southern State

#2 Hepatitis A

Floods create a conducive environment for the spread of the Hepatitis A virus, which enters the human body through a faecal-oral route. Floodwaters contaminated with sewage may be replete in the virus, which can raise the risk of the infection. Hepatitis A outbreak was also reported after the 2013 Uttarakhand floods.

#3 Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial illness which can result in kidney and liver failure, meningitis, breathing difficulty and haemorrhage. Cases of lepto are known to increase after floods where people are forced to wade through contaminated water. Leptospirosis is spread by the bacteria Leptospira, which enters the human body through cuts on the skin. The antibiotic Doxycycline should be taken within 72 hours of exposure to contaminated water.

#4 Parasitic Infections of Skin and Eyes

“Flood situations can also increase instances of parasitic and fungal infections of the skin,” says Dr Shrivastava. There were increased reports of skin infections after the Chennai floods of 2015 and after Hurricane Harvey. Skin infections like eczema are seen commonly during floods. Skin macerations, dermatitis, urticaria and scabies are some of the other infectious skin conditions. Water-borne pathogens in the floodwaters can also raise the risk of eye infections like conjunctivitis.

#5 Vector-Borne Disease

According to WHO, floods may indirectly lead to a spike in vector-borne disease caused due to the “expansion in number and range of vector habitats.” Although flooding may flush out the mosquito breeding at first, it always comes back once the waters recede. Increase in stagnant water surface leads to boosts mosquito breeding. The situation is conducive to diseases such as dengue and malaria to spread. Changes in human behaviour after the floods, like sleeping outside, overcrowding and suspension of disease control activities add to the problem.

#6 Diseases Caused By Rotting Corpses

A large amount of livestock and stray animals were killed in the Kerala floods. With most of the ground surface inundated with water, civic authorities are facing problems burying their rotting carcasses. WHO says that there is no evidence that corpses pose a risk of diseases after natural disaster since most disease-causing agents don’t survive for long after the death of the organism. But both human and animal dead bodies can pose health risks in case cholera, or haemorrhagic fevers cause the death. Health care workers who regularly handle corpses can contract tuberculosis, blood-borne diseases, gastrointestinal infections, etc.

#7 Tetanus

Tetanus is a non-contagious disease caused by a toxin released by the anaerobic tetanus bacillus. Injuries and trauma are common in flood situations, which raises risk for tetanus infections.

The Way Forward

The government of Kerala now faces the gargantuan task of averting a second disaster that may unfold in the state. Given the grim and chaotic situation, the authorities need to tread carefully to minimise the health-related casualties. Dr Shrivastava recommends rehabilitating the victims to drier lands to prevent chances of any outbreaks. The focus should be on providing sanitation and clean drinking water and stocking up on essential medicines such as doxycycline, tetanus toxoid (TT), medication for diabetes mellitus, corticosteroids for patients who are dependent on them, etc. “The government should mobilise relief teams. Triage systems should be formed to prioritise patients, according to the severity of their illness,” he says.

Although no outbreaks have been reported so far, the Union Health Ministry has already swung into action, arranging for 90 types of medicines for Kerala. A total of 3,757 medical relief camps have also been set up in the state to buffer any kind of health situation that may arise.

(References: Epidemics after Natural Disasters; An outbreak of hepatitis A virus among children in a flood rescue camp; Health impacts of floods)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2018 06:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).