Natural Disaster & Infectious Diseases

A natural disaster poses health threats not only at the time it strikes but in the aftermath, primarily in the form of infectious diseases. The germs that cause infectious disease often find favorable conditions after a natural disaster and can easily spread. Some simple measures, however, can help protect the community from contagious illnesses as recovery proceeds.

Shelters

• Infectious diseases spread easily in a shelter because many people are in close proximity. Normal hygiene practices may be disrupted due to strained bathroom facilities and diaper changes occurring in close quarters. Other potential challenges while staying in a shelter include difficulty bathing regularly and obtaining clean clothes, and the accumulation of trash. The conditions in a group shelter increase the risk for colds, infectious diarrhea and the stomach flu.

Water Contamination

• Natural disasters that involve flooding may contaminate the water supply with disease-causing bacteria and parasites. Sewage, animal feces and dead animals can also foul the water. During flooding, people commonly contact contaminated water. Cleaning up after the disaster also poses an infectious disease risk due to handling items that may have soaked in contaminated water. Drinking contaminated water is a major risk factor for infectious stomach and intestinal illnesses.

Diseases

• Parasites, viruses, bacteria and fungi can cause illnesses after natural disasters. Parasitic diarrheal illnesses that occur through water contamination include cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis and amebiasis. Common bacteria associated with post-disaster infections include E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter and Vibrio species. These bacteria most commonly cause diarrhea, although infection of other areas of the body sometimes occur.

  Leptospirosis, a bacterial illness spread by contact with the urine of infected animals, can lead to liver and kidney failure. Legionnaires' disease is a risk after a natural disaster because the bacteria that causes the illness reproduces in stagnant water -- such as the standing water in the pipes of buildings damaged by the catastrophe. Legionnaires' disease is a severe, potentially fatal form of pneumonia.

  Viral infectious diseases are common after natural disasters. Head colds frequently occur, especially among children. Stomach flu cases may spike in the aftermath of a disaster, usually caused by rotavirus, enterovirus or norovirus. Transmission of the hepatitis A virus, which causes diarrhea and liver inflammation, may also increase due to poor sanitation and crowded conditions.

Prevention

• Good hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent infectious diseases. Wash your hands with soap and water that has been disinfected or boiled. Be sure to wash your hands before handling food, after using the bathroom and after cleaning or handling contaminated items. If water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Safeguards

• If you are unsure about the purity of the water supply, presume that it is unsafe. Contaminated water must be boiled or treated with iodine or chlorine before drinking or using it to clean or cook. Disgard spoiled or contaminated food. Fully cook your food and prepare it yourself.

  Clean open wounds with soap and decontaminated water as soon as possible. Cover the cleansed wound with a bandage to protect it from bacteria that may cause a serious infection.

  If available, wear disposable gloves when handling potentially contaminated items.