Heavy rain, overflowing lakes and water stagnation across the city could lead to an increase in health problems if people do not take proper care, say doctors.
Stressing that people need to take adequate precautions, doctors say there is a possibility of an outbreak of bacterial and viral infections, including water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and gastroenteritis, in areas affected by bad weather.
There is also a likelihood of people catching protozoal and parasitic infections. It is important for people to be careful about what they eat and drink, says Ansar Ahmed, medical superintendent, Epidemic Diseases Hospital. No cases from the affected areas have come to the Epidemic Diseases Hospital so far.
Boiled water
Dr. Ahmed adds that most health problems can be avoided mainly by drinking boiled and cooled water.
Sudarshan Ballal, chairman, Manipal Hospitals, says water should be boiled for 15 to 20 minutes and cooled before drinking. “It is important that the same quality of water is used for cooking also, as water getting contaminated with sewage is a common phenomenon during flood,” he says.
That apart, people can also get skin infections. People with diabetes should be extra careful, he adds.
