Dealing with Flood & Sewer Waters in Your Home
Health Risks Associated with Sewage-Contaminated Flood Waters

Bacterial or viral pathogens may be present in sewage-contaminated flood waters. The primary means by which people and animals may contract diseases from contaminated flood water is by fecal-oral transmission. Fecal-oral transmission occurs by either directly touching sewage or touching an object which has been in contact with sewage and then touching either the mouth, eyes, ears, or nose. Exposure can also occur by handling food products with sewage-contaminated objects, including improperly washed hands. Pregnant women, children, elderly persons, and those who are immuno-compromised may be at higher risk. Following is a list of the most common fecal-oral transmitted diseases for this region and their symptoms.

• Amebiasis (Amebic Dysentery): intestinal disease with fever, chills and bloody or mucoid diarrhea.

• Epidemic Viral Gastroenteritis (Viral Diarrhea): nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, myalgia, malaise, low-grade fever, or a combination of these symptoms usually lasting 24-48 hours.

• Giardiasis (Giardia Enteritis): chronic diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, frequent loose, pale greasy stools, fatigue and weight loss.

• Viral Hepatitis A: fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea and abdominal discomfort followed within a few days by jaundice.

• Salmonellosis: fever, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and sometimes vomiting.

• Shigellosis: diarrhea accompanied by fever, nausea and sometimes toxemia, vomiting, cramps.