High risk for infectious diseases and epidemics in flood aftermath
(May 25, 2010) Floodwaters are starting to recede from the villages they submerged
in the districts of Gampaha, Colombo and Kalutara, western Sri Lanka. The official
death toll stood at about 20 deaths and 600,000 people forced from their homes. Now,
health authorities are warning against possible infections and water-borne diseases,
urging people in the affected areas to drink only boiled water. In Gampaha district
which had torrential rains for more than a week, now finds the waters are receding
but very slowly. Refugee camps remain overcrowded. Anura Jayasinghe, an epidemiological
consultant with the Health Ministry, said, “Due to flooding, garbage pollutes fresh
water sources, making them contaminated.” Since direct pipe-borne water and chlorination
were affected by frequent power cuts, there is a high risk for typhoid, hepatitis
A, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, chickenpox, viral flu, rabies, dengue and rat fever.
People are advised to monitor closely their health, careful to notice any symptoms
that are typical of such diseases. Snakes also have been a problem. In Gampaha district
alone, at least 30 people have been hospitalised because of snakebites but none died.