Health concerns with floodwaters

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - The widespread flooding across Region 8 could leave some unwanted guests behind.

Torrential rains flooded several communities in Northeast Arkansas last weekend, some are still flooded, but others are just beginning the recovery process.

As water recedes, snakes like these could slither into yards, but as Associate Professor of Physiology Lori Neuman-Lee explains, animals are just trying to survive the floodwaters themselves. She said if you try to move them, beware.

“Bites from venomous snakes are actually when people are trying to kill them or remove them from their property,” she said.

Neuman-Lee said if you are determined to try to move unwanted visitors, keep a safe distance.

“Use a hose to spray them with water and that actually is really effective to move them off the space,” she said. “The best advice is just to let them be, because really they’re just trying to get away from the water as much as you are.”

But there are other invisible dangers in the waters as well.

Assistant Professor of Microbiology Robert Shields says floodwaters come into contact with a lot of things.

“So this could be things like soil animals, plants, sewage, and any of those things that it comes into contact with have the potential to have pathogens in them.”

Shields said those pathogens could be ingested through your mouth or ears, even open wounds, which could lead to illnesses.

Staphylococci and streptococci can cause invasive skin infections in humans. Both can be found in flood waters.

“Diarrhea or vomiting, gastrointestinal problems, skin infections are something that takes a little bit longer to develop,” he said. “The real risk group is children because they’re likely to play in the water. But there’s potential there, especially with them not knowing that there’s disease in the water for them to potentially just that. And, you know, the most likely thing is they have bad stomach aches.”

He said wearing protective gear and covering open wounds is the best way to protect yourself from these hidden pathogens in the water.

Shields also said there is yet another risk after water recedes: mold. Disinfecting and drying mold-prone areas should be a priority.

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