The spring flood period is especially dangerous for those who live near rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. As a result of a spring flood, even in the absence of flooding or submersion, pathogens of infectious diseases can enter underground groundwater, wells, wells, and natural spring catchments from cemeteries, burial grounds, landfills, latrines, and other contaminated areas: tuberculosis, anthrax, viral hepatitis, leptospirosis, typhoid fever, helminth eggs and larvae, dysentery amoebas, Giardia cysts, Balantidiasis intestinalis, etc. In this regard, there is a risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Another dangerous factor is the presence of nitrates in groundwater - the end product of biological decomposition of organic substances, which are present in large quantities in soils on agricultural lands and livestock farms. The presence of nitrates in drinking water above the maximum permissible concentration is especially dangerous for infants and young children due to the risk of poisoning, which leads to oxygen starvation of the body, in severe cases - with fatal consequences.
To protect yourself from dangerous consequences, we recommend that you follow the following rules:
- use boiled or bottled water for drinking, hygiene purposes, and cooking; do not use unboiled water from wells and natural springs for drinking. It is best to completely abandon the use of well and spring water for a certain period of time;
- do not consume products that have been flooded with water during a flood, with damaged packaging, etc. Use only products of guaranteed quality for food. Be sure to follow the cooking technology, especially regarding the heat treatment of meat, culinary products from meat, fish, eggs, etc. Do not cook dishes, especially those that spoil quickly, "with a margin", in case of repeated consumption, be sure to subject them to heat treatment. Store ready-made dishes without refrigeration for no more than 2 hours, do not consume products and dishes whose shelf life has expired. When consuming vegetables and fruits, rinse them well with drinking water, and when consumed by children, pour boiling water over them and do not wash with water from open reservoirs;
- Follow the rules of personal hygiene and make sure that children follow them.
After the water drains from the soil, it is necessary to:
- carry out land reclamation (clean the soil surface of foreign objects (branches, garbage, etc.), dig up vegetable gardens and household plots to a depth of 20-25 cm;
- individual latrines and toilets, if overflowing with water, should be emptied using a sewage machine and disinfected with bleach or another disinfectant intended for this purpose;
- free the wells from dirt, clean, empty and disinfect the water in them using chlorine-containing cartridges;
- carry out deratization in places where rodents may accumulate.
If you develop signs of infectious diseases (increased body temperature, fever, dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, runny nose, cough, yellowing of the skin, sclera of the eyes, rashes on the body, the appearance of abscesses, etc.), seek medical help immediately, do not self-medicate!
Remember: simple but effective hygiene measures will help you stay healthy. Be attentive and careful!
Sincerely, Chuguyiv District Department of the Main Department of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection in the Kharkiv Region