Hurricane Ian hit Florida as class 4 storm in late September, bringing torrential rains and a storm surge that left a lot of coastal and central Florida underwater. But whereas the rapid risks concerned drowning and accidents, an invisible menace would quickly sicken some individuals who got here in touch with the water: flesh-eating micro organism. 

After the storm, coastal Florida noticed a spike in infections by Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating micro organism. People usually catch it from raw seafood, however it could actually additionally stay in heat, brackish water. According to the Florida Department of Health’s website, the state has seen 64 confirmed circumstances of flesh-eating micro organism infections thus far this yr, with 11 deaths. That’s nearly double the circumstances reported in all of 2021. Lee County, which comprises hard-hit Fort Myers, alone has confirmed a whopping 28 circumstances and 4 deaths as of October 21.

Flesh-eating micro organism is only one of a number of well being dangers that include floodwaters. Inundated streets, roads, and houses grow to be coated by polluted water that threatens residents and emergency responders. Gastrointestinal sicknesses and pores and skin infections usually spike after flooding occasions.

Other floods in latest historical past have additionally yielded a spike in illness. A 2019 report that studied floods in Iran additionally checked out different main flooding occasions worldwide, together with 1988 floods in Sudan that led to a spike in hepatitis A infections, brought on by sewage-contaminated waters.

Brian Labus, an assistant professor within the School of Public Health on the University of Nevada, defined that the pollution in floodwater might differ relying on the place you might be. Urban facilities could also be extra more likely to cope with sewage, whereas rural areas might even see animal waste, fertilizer, or pesticide runoff.

“The diseases we see most often occur from sewage are gastrointestinal infections, things like norovirus, or salmonella, E. coli,” he stated. “You get sick from these things typically from swallowing. It’s going to be on your hands…they could be covered in bacteria, which, you then grab a sandwich or grab something to drink and wind up swallowing [the bacteria].”

The contaminants in water additionally rely on the extent of harm to native infrastructure, reminiscent of chemical remedy crops and wastewater remedy amenities. Oil spills also can unfold, and if oil-contaminated floodwater enters a house, the fumes can pollute indoor air and result in varied well being results, together with hurt to the nervous and respiratory techniques.

During Hurricane Ian, a water remedy plant simply off Highway 27 reported a leak of greater than 2,000 gallons of sodium hypochlorite, in line with the Tampa Bay Times. The chemical is a harsh disinfectant that causes blistering and burns on pores and skin and even eye harm. The harm additionally launched sewage into a few of the state’s floodwaters and waterways. In Brevard County, the flooding brought about extra than 357,000 gallons of waste to circulation up from manholes and onto seashores, Florida Today reported.

And as flooding turns into extra widespread and extra intense, areas that aren’t accustomed to floods might not know to strengthen locations like fuel stations, sewer techniques, or chemical processing amenities.

“Whether it’s the storm surge or just the vast amounts of rain, there is not a sewer system on the planet that can take that kind of hit without having some sort of overflow,” Nathan Gardner-Andrews, the chief advocacy officer for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, told Bloomberg earlier this month. “As storms get more intense you are going to see unfortunately more incidents where systems get overwhelmed.”

Byomkesh Talukder, a public well being analysiser at York University, defined that most of the gastrointestinal infections and sicknesses brought on by flood waters are likely to clear up on their very own. But if somebody has allergic reactions or a weaker immune system, these small infections can flip right into a life-threatening emergency.

“Obviously, if there is flooding, the healthcare system is disrupted. You cannot expect an ambulance at that point,” he stated. “Drugstores will also be closed. In Canada and in the U.S., we don’t always keep essential medicines that are not prescribed in the household. My suggestion is to keep this kind of primary care medicine around.”

Talukder particularly beneficial retaining ache relievers and fever reducers like acetaminophen or aspirin at residence, particularly in the event you know {that a} storm or potential flooding occasion is feasible. Pharmacies additionally carry over-the-counter anti-nausea and antidiarrheal medicines, which may assist keep away from dehydration.

He and Labus each beneficial storing as a lot water as potential to make sure entry to wash ingesting water after a storm. The additional water may also be used for hand washing—that is particularly necessary for first responders and anybody who has no alternative however to come back in touch with floodwater. Anyone who has to enter floodwaters to assist others ought to cowl their pores and skin as a lot as potential. If they’ve any cuts or scrapes, these wounds needs to be cleaned as finest as potential and monitored for indicators of an infection. Any clothes that has are available in contact with floodwaters needs to be washed with hot water and a disinfectant.

Even if somebody has not been injured whereas in touch with floodwaters, many viruses and bacterias could be ingested. Medical professionals usually suggest that individuals who have been uncovered to floodwaters ought to be sure they’re as much as date on their shots, like tetanus and hepatitis vaccines.