Assam Floods: Fear of post-flood diseases looms large

 Death toll in flood rises to 180

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: After witnessing the wrath of nature in the form of devastating floods, Assam now faces the threat of an outbreak of infectious diseases. As per reports, three women have died in Kampur in the Nagaon district. They had shown symptoms like vomiting and loose motion, which are generally associated with post-flood diseases.

In the weeks after flooding, said a health expert, there is a high risk of transmission of infectious water-borne diseases like typhoid, diarrhoea, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E, leptospirosis and skin rashes, and vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and West Nile fever.

Till yesterday, 18.31 lakh people had been affected by floods in Assam and 2.78 lakh people were taking shelter in relief camps. With floodwaters receding, people are slowly returning to their homes. But unhygienic and dirty conditions prevail in the flood-affected areas. These areas are likely to become breeding grounds for pathogens, leading to the transmission of diseases. The present extreme heat and dry weather conditions will only make matters worse, added the health expert.

A senior doctor said that under such circumstances, it is vital for the government to strengthen the public surveillance system. "Medical teams should be sent to the flood-affected areas for surveillance of the health conditions of people and sample collection. Health camps must be conducted and the local community health centres (CHCs) must be involved in this exercise," he said.

"Awareness about cleanliness and hygiene must be generated among the people who are returning to their houses from the relief camps. They must disinfect their houses and surroundings. Drinking water should be treated with chlorine tablets. It is advisable to first boil water and then drink lukewarm water. Mosquito nets must be used to prevent the outbreak of malaria and dengue," added the doctor.

Health department sources said, "We are closely monitoring the post-flood situation to prevent an epidemic. This season we witnessed unprecedented floods. Lakhs of people have been affected. There is manpower shortage so we are sending medical teams to the severely affected areas. Health camps are being conducted and as a precautionary measure we have asked all the medical colleges to remain alert to mobilize manpower and resources if there is an outbreak of disease."

Meanwhile, the flood situation in the State is improving. However, there are still 1,55,271 people taking shelter in 327 relief camps across the State. The worst-affected district in this wave of flood is the Cachar district where 1,27,107 people are still taking shelter in relief camps. In the last 24 hours, one more person died in the Cachar district. With this, the overall death toll in the State due to flood and landslide is now 180.

Four rivers are still flowing above the danger level. They are the Brahmaputra in Dhubri, the Kopili at Dharamtul, the Disang at Nanglamuraghat and the Burhidihing at Chenimari (Khowang). According to sources, as many as 13,71,663 people of 1,344 villages in 24 districts continue to remain affected by floods.

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