February 09, 2023
Flood water bad for your health
With Tropical Cylcone Gabriel threating to hit Aotearoa early next week, there’s a warning about the added danger that comes from floodwater.
Dr Andrew Connelly, the chief medical officer for Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau Health, says as well as damaging homes and property, the water itself is a threat to health, especially for children.
“This isn’t just rainwater that’s filling up places. It brings a lot of bugs with it out of the stormwater or sewerage systems. You’ve got to be particularly careful the kids don’t enjoy splashing in it too much. Obviously we don’t know what’s in it and also there could be drains or pipes we just don’t know about,” he says.
Dr Connolly says people can also be deceived by the depth of the water or the strength of the currents.