Diseases Strikes Thailand in Wake of Flooding

Fears about water and insect borne diseases in the flood in Thailand raise concerns across the city of Bangkok. “The water in those parts is a filthy black color containing sewage, garbage and the dead animals with a nasty smell. Mosquitoes are also breeding rapidly,” said Igor Prahin of Bangkok.

Over two million affected

According to CNN, over 370 people have died since the flooding began following the heavy monsoon rains. US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie A. Kenney said Monday that “the worst may be over for central Bangkok,” but about two million people are still affected by the flooding.

According to gantdaily.com, “Diarrhea, dengue, leptospirosis, typhoid, malaria and skin infections are the most common water-borne diseases in flood-ravaged areas where people have poor access to clean water, food and sanitation,” said Seeviga Saegtharatip, a communicable diseases specialist at the Department of Disease Control at the Ministry of Public Health.

Charities working in the country have warned people of diseases such as diarrhea, dengue fever and malaria in the coming weeks.

Helping Thailand little by little

UNICEF (The United Nations Children’s Fund), said it was providing 20,000 mosquito nets and handing out 20,000 pamphlets explaining how to stay safe and healthy in flood stricken regions. The Red Cross said it had provided more than 130,000 relief kits and 120,000 packs of bottled water. Bangkok representatives said they were concerned about the lack of food and drinking water in several communities isolated by the floodwaters.

Matthew Cochrane, of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent told CNN that the country still faced a variety of threats.

According to Aljazeera, the floods follow after heavy monsoon rain. There have been some accusations that authorities mistakenly delayed releasing water from the dams early in the rainy season. By the time authorities had to release the water, the rain was heavy and the rivers were full.