Hurricane Ike devastated the city of Galveston, Texas on the morning of September 13th, 2008, having started off the coast of Africa and rampaging Haiti, Cuba, and other parts of Latin America prior to its descent on the US.
In its aftermath, returning residents to Galveston are finding themselves amidst swarms of rotting herd animals, mosquitoes, rats, and snakes (Read the AP news story here). To top it off, there is limited drinking water, electricity, and medical care. Residents have been advised to get tetanus shots and bring rat bait.
What are the infectious disease risks associated with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike?
Animal-borne Diseases
The presence of animal carcasses are a public health issue because they are frequently infested with infectious microbes such as Salmonella or E. coli. The other problem is that the presence of rotting animal carcasses will attract rats, which, in addition to being a nuisance, are another major source of infection. Rats carry diseases such as hantavirus and plague.
Insect-borne Diseases
Mosquitoes both carry a wide range of infectious diseases that can be a threat to you and your loved ones. The problem with mosquitoes following a natural disaster is that they prefer to breed in standing water, which can be quite abundant after hurricanes. In the US, mosquitoes can carry spread infectious diseases including West Nile Virus and other encephalitis viruses, Dengue Fever and even Malaria.
Food-borne Diseases
Following a natural disaster, food sources can be questionable. The majority of microbes thrive at room temperature, so in the absence of refrigeration, spoiled foods can be an abundant source of gastrointestinal and diarrheal diseases. Foods that have been in contact with storm water are likely to be contaminated with infectious water-borne microbes.
Water-borne Diseases
The lack of clean water and sanitation systems can lead to the spread of many infections. Included in the list are diarrheal diseases, for which risk of dehydration is the greatest cause of death. With the absence of drinking water, the risk becomes even greater. In addition to microbes that cause diarrheal or other intestinal diseases, water-borne microbes may include Giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium, which can be found in fresh-water including rivers and lakes. Other diseases spread through drinking water include E. coli O157:H7, Entamoeba histolytica, and Hepatitis A
What can the residents of Galveston do to prevent infection?
- Wash hands frequently. In the absence of clean water, use a hand sanitizer.
- Make your home unfriendly to rats. Remove food sources and items that provide shelter for rodents. Discard garbage frequently and in rodent-proof containers. Set rat traps. Seal gaps inside and outside your home that are more than ¼-inch in diameter. Disinfect rodent-contaminated areas with a 10% bleach-water solution.
- Discard animal carcasses. People who are working to clean up animal carcasses should use waterproof gloves and boots and protective eyewear. Animal carcasses should be disposed in sealed plastic trash bags, avoiding direct skin-to-animal contact.
- Avoid mosquito bites. Wear insect repellant (preferably containing DEET) and protective clothing. Eliminate areas of standing water to prevent mosquito breeding.
- Discard food that may have come in contact with storm water. Canned foods that are damaged (bulging or opened) should be thrown away. Cans that are not damaged but have been in contact with storm water may be sanitized in a bleach solution made of 1 cup bleach in 5 gallons of water.
- Disinfect drinking water. Cloudy water should first be filtered through clean cloths or allowed to settle, drawing off clear water for disinfection. Rapidly boil the filtered water for at least 1 minute to kill bacteria. If boiling is not an option, the addition of 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops) of household bleach to one gallon of water, followed by a 30-minute disinfection period, can kill some microbes. Disinfected water should be stored in clean containers with covers. Well water should be tested and disinfected prior to its use following a natural disaster.
How can the rest of us help?
The American Red Cross and Salvation Army are both accepting Hurricane Ike donations to aid in relief efforts. Donations can also be made to the Texas Disaster Relief Fund.
Sources
Food and Water Safety During Hurricanes, Power Outages, and Floods. FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. December 2007
Emergency Preparedness & Response. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water. US Environmental Protection Agency. August 2006.
