Remember when we used to be on alert the end of each year because we regarded it as #MusimBanjir? Well, not anymore.
Thanks to rapid and uncontrolled deforestation, climate change as well as longkang-longkang tersumbat, sekarang ni dah tak tentu bila banjir will or will not occur.
In fact as of noon today (8 March 2023), the number of flood victims in Johor alone stood at 41,543, with almost 30,000 of them dari daerah Batu Pahat. Meanwhile, publicinfobanjir listed several areas in Selangor, Pahang, Johor and Sarawak are on alert for potential flood incidences.
Sebab tu lah menteri kesihatan kita, Dr Zaliha Mustafa kata that the Ministry of Health (Moh) will monitor flood-related diseases, especially leptospirosis, and food poisoning.
On that note, kita pun kenalah ambil tahu about these flood-related illnesses, walaupun tempat kita tak affected by flood. Harini, kita akan look at some of the commonly known hazards posed by the situation and what can be done to avoid them.
1. Water and food contamination
OK, kita semua tahu there are lots of harmful impurities in floodwater which, if not contained properly, could expose your essential supplies to various types of bacteria. As a consequence, you might end up suffering from critical medical conditions such as:
Cholera
Symptoms : Constant nausea and vomiting, watery diarrhea, excessive thirst and dehydration
Treatment : ZInc supplements, oral rehydration salts, antibiotics
Typhoid Fever
Symptoms : Headache, constipation, abdominal pain, extreme fatigue
Treatment : Antibiotics
Precautionary Steps:
If any of your makanan has come into contact with floodwater, terus buang. Consuming it is not only dangerous for your health, it’s also obviously disgusting, kan? Selain tu, kita kena lah minum air yang cooked thoroughly and avoid any raw food.
2. Rodent infestation
Flood causes sewers to be overflown, which force rats and mice to seek shelter above ground (ugh, geli tau). OK jab, kenapa ni bahaya? Through direct and indirect contact, they are able to transmit all sorts of viruses. The biggest danger those creatures have towards your body is as follows:
Leptospirosis (aka Kencing Tikus)
Symptoms : High fever, jaundice, skin rash, muscle pain, irritated eyes, diarrhea and/or vomiting
Treatment : Intravenous antibiotics, ibuprofen
Precautionary Steps:
If you have already received early flood warning beforehand, use wire mesh to caulk any spaces surrounding doors, utility line entrance points, vents, and water pipes. Store your food stockpiles inside well-shut cabinets, refrigerators, or other similar containers so small rodents won’t be able to turn them into a fancy kenduri meal.
3. Rising mosquito population
Tiap kali ada je banjir, it will inevitably create a lot of stagnant water which is the perfect propagating site for many types of mosquitoes like Aedes vexans. If you get bitten by them, you mungkin berisiko contracting certain ailments including:
Dengue Fever
Symptoms : Acute headache, swollen gland, muscle or joint pain, rash
Treatment : None
Malaria
Symptoms : Shaking chills, convulsion, fatigue, excessive sweating
Treatment : Chloroquine, artemisinin-based combination therapy
Precautionary Steps:
Wearing long, loose protective garments and using a personal repellent are the greatest protections against mosquitoes. Once the flood has subsided, cepat-cepat buang any submerged debris. Ini sebab it may contain enough water to breed mosquitoes. You really don’t want to have lots of them whining right next to your ear, kan?
OK, itu je yang kita dapat share untuk harini!
We sincerely hope this article has been helpful. But, if you need further clarification (or event guidance) feel free to visit the official portal of the Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, do stay safe and let’s do our part to help our fellow Malaysians who are affected by the flood, as well as the brave men and women who are doing their bid to bring aid to the victims.
Seronok baca? Jom get instant alerts on how you can take charge of your health by subscribing to our newsletter. All the T’s (topics, trends, tips and tricks, and tidbits) conveniently in your inbox!
Disclaimer: Our content is strictly for educational and informational purposes only. Healthlah.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
