Floods may trigger epidemics

Hyderabad, Oct 10 :

 There are high chances of epidemics breaking out due to the lack of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities in the flood affected areas of Kurnool, Mahabubnagar, Krishna and Guntur districts. The government is facing toughest task in these districts with threats of outbreak of post-flood epidemics. The districts, which were ravaged by the floods and remained underwater for six days, now face the possibility of the outbreak of cholera, malaria, diarrhoea and even plague is being feared. In Krishna and Kurnool districts, thousands of animal carcasses, rotting debris and silt have accumulated on the roads. Without enough workers and machines to clear them, they have been lying there since the floods ravaged the area on October

2. Health officials say the clean-up operation has to take top priority in the flood-affected areas now. Most people, particularly children, are reporting either fever or skin infections ever since the floodwaters submerged many parts of Vijayawada city and adjoining areas in Krishna district. The situation is the same in Kurnool, Mahbubnagar and Guntur districts. "When we start the water supply, we have to take adequate safety precautions to ensure the drinking water is safe," said P S Pradyumna, Municipal Commissioner, Vijayawada. The focus now shifts to 'Operation Clean up' to guard against outbreak of any diseases.