Te Whatu Ora in Te Matau a Māui Hawke’s Bay is warning
the community to keep away from floodwaters to prevent the
spread of gastroenteritis.
Public Health Medicine
Specialist Bridget Wilson says flood waters are likely to be
contaminated with sewage, which causes gastroenteritis, also
known as ‘tummy bug’ or ‘gastro’.
“Gastro
causes diarrhoea and vomiting, and there is an increased
risk of gastro after large flooding events because flood
water is often contaminated with sewage, farm run off or
hazardous waste,” Ms Wilson says.
“If you do have
contact with flood water, flooded property or items
contaminated with flood water you should wash your hands
thoroughly.”
People get infected when they swallow
the harmful bacteria, viruses, toxins and parasites, or when
they breathe in the viruses.
“This can happen when
you play or swim in flood water and puddles or touch
contaminated surfaces or objects such as door handles,
towels and objects that have been in contact with flood
waters.”
Contact with other infected people by
eating from the same plate or sharing cutlery, contact with
farm animals or pets and consuming contaminated food or
drinks, can also cause infection.
People should also
stay away from rivers streams and beaches for at least three
days after heavy rain because heavy rain flushes
contaminants from urban and rural land into water
ways.
Drinking water
To find out if there is a
boil water notice issued on your supply the first place to
check is your local council’s website.
If residents
are on their own drinking water supply (i.e. bore, well,
roof, stream) and are not sure of the quality of it, it is
recommended that water from these supplies is boiled for at
least one minute before drinking, brushing your teeth and
washing fruit and vegetables.
If you have no power,
use another heat source such as a BBQ to bring the water to
a rolling boil for one minute. (Note: keep the BBQ outside
at all times. Do not bring it inside the house or garage
because charcoal or gas BBQs produce large amounts of carbon
monoxide which can be fatal).
If you cannot boil your
drinking water, then add purifying tablets or plain,
unscented household bleach. Add half a teaspoon of bleach
per 10 litres of water, mix and leave for at least 30
minutes or follow instructions on purifying tablets. Store
treated water in a covered container.
What to do if
you have gastro
Gastro is not usually serious and
most people recover quickly without having to see a doctor.
If you feel unwell after coming into contact with
floodwater, call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 611
116.
It is important that people who are unwell stay
hydrated. You should drink plenty of water and other fluids.
Clear fluids, such as water and diluted cordials are best.
Ice blocks are a good way of keeping children
hydrated.
If the symptoms are severe, some people may
need to be treated at hospital, particularly the very young
and the elderly if they get dehydrated. A person with gastro
symptoms should see a doctor or nurse if
they:
- Are less than 6 months old
- Have
diarrhoea and stomach cramps for more than 24 hours or
symptoms get worse - Have a high temperature, go pale
or limp or are unusually tired, drowsy or
irritable - Have blood, mucus or pus in their
poo - Are not drinking fluids and show signs of
dehydration, such as not weeing or only producing small
amounts of dark wee and/or have a dry mouth - Have
other health problems or symptoms.
How to stop
the spread
The viruses, bacteria and parasites that
cause gastro can be passed on to other people while they are
still in your body and poo. The viruses, bacteria and
parasites can stay in your body and poo for several days to
several weeks after your symptoms stop.
To avoid
spreading gastro:
- Regularly wash and dry your
hands thoroughly. Use sanitiser if clean water is not
available/limited. - Open doors and windows to let
fresh air into the room after vomiting - Use household
chlorine bleach mixed with water to disinfect areas where
vomit and poo have spilled and clean any surfaces and items
you use often - Do not prepare food for others until
you have had no symptoms for two
days.
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