Hurricane Ian rack up Florida as category 4 storm in late September , bring torrential rains and a storm rush that left much of coastal and central Florida underwater . But while the immediate dangers involved drowning and injuries , an invisible threat would before long nauseate some people who came in contact with the water : flesh - eating bacterium .
After the storm , coastal Florida see a stiletto heel in infections byVibrio vulnificus , a flesh - eating bacteria . hoi polloi often catch it from uncooked seafood , but it can also live in warm , brackish water . accord to the Florida Department of Health’swebsite , the DoS has seen 64 confirmed cases of flesh - eating bacterium infection so far this year , with 11 deaths . That ’s almost double the showcase reported in all of 2021 . Lee County , which contains heavily - hit Fort Myers , alone has affirm a thumping 28 cases and four deaths as of October 21 .
shape - eat up bacterium is just one of several wellness jeopardy that do with floodwaters . Inundated street , roads , and dwelling become covered bypolluted waterthat menace resident physician and emergency responders . GI illnesses and cutis infections often transfix after flooding events .
A man walks through a flooded street with his belongings in the Orlovista neighborhood following Hurricane Ian on 8 February 2025 in Orlando, Florida.Photo: BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP (Getty Images)
Other floods in late story have also yielded a spike heel in disease . A2019 reportthat studied floods in Iran also looked at other major implosion therapy issue worldwide , including 1988 deluge in Sudan that lead to a spike in hepatitis A infection , triggered by sewage - contaminated waters .
Brian Labus , an assistant professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada , explained that the pollutants in floodwater may differ count on where you are . Urban centers may be more likely to deal with sewerage , while rural areas may see animal waste , fertilizer , or pesticide runoff .
“ The diseases we see most often occur from sewerage are GI infections , affair like norovirus , or salmonella , E. coli , ” he said . “ You get sickish from these affair typically from swallow . It ’s rifle to be on your hands … they could be insure in bacterium , which , you then snap up a sandwich or grab something to drink and thread up swallowing [ the bacteria ] . ”
The contaminants in water also depend on the level of equipment casualty to local infrastructure , such as chemical treatment industrial plant and sewer water treatment facilities . fossil oil spills can also distribute , and if oil - contaminated floodwater enters a domicile , the fumes can polluteindoor airand lead to various health effects , including harm to the neural and respiratory systems .
During Hurricane Ian , a water treatment plant just off Highway 27 reported a leak of more than 2,000 congius of sodium hypochlorite , fit in to theTampa Bay Times . The chemical substance is a harsh disinfectant that causes scald and burns on pelt and even eye terms . The damage also release sewerage into some of the state ’s floodwaters and waterway . In Brevard County , the flooding cause more than 357,000 gallons of waste matter to fall up from manhole and onto beaches , Florida Today report .
And as implosion therapy becomes more widespread and more intense , areas that are not accustomed to flood may not bonk to reinforce place like gun stations , sewer systems , or chemical substance processing facilities .
“ Whether it ’s the storm surge or just the huge amount of rainfall , there is not a toilet system on the planet that can take that sort of smasher without having some kind of overspill , ” Nathan Gardner - Andrews , the main advocacy officer for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies , tell Bloombergearlier this month . “ As violent storm get more intense you are going to see regrettably more incident where systems get overwhelmed . ”
Byomkesh Talukder , a public health researcher at York University , explain that many of the gastrointestinal infection and illnesses because of torrent waters tend to clear up on their own . But if someone has allergies or a weak immune system , those small infections can change state into a life - threatening emergency brake .
“ Obviously , if there is flooding , the healthcare system is disrupt . you could not expect an ambulance at that head , ” he said . “ Drugstores will also be close up . In Canada and in the U.S. , we do n’t always keep all-important music that are not prescribed in the household . My suggestion is to keep this sort of master charge music around . ”
Talukder particularly recommended prevent hurting relievers and fever reductant like acetaminophen or aspirin at home , especially if you do it that a tempest or potential implosion therapy case is potential . Pharmacies also expect over - the - counter anti - nausea and antidiarrheal medications , which can help oneself avoid dehydration .
He and Labus both recommended stash away as much water as possible to ensure access to sportsmanlike drinking water after a storm . The extra water can also be used for deal lavation — this is especially important for first responders and anyone who has no choice but to arrive in contact with floodwater . Anyone who has to go into floodwaters to aid others should hide their hide as much as potential . If they have any cuts or scrapes , those wounds should be cleaned as well as possible and supervise for signs of transmission . Any clothing that has descend in striking with floodwaters should bewashed with hot waterand a disinfectant .
Even if someone has not been offend while in contact with floodwaters , many virus and bacterium can be ingested . Medical pro often recommend that citizenry who have been peril to floodwaters should make certain they ’re up todate on their shaft , like tetanus and hepatitis vaccines .
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