Has flooding recently occurred in your area?
Standing water is definitely one thing you don’t want to be around or in. Standing water is most commonly associated with standing floodwater, but there are other ways that standing water can come about, like a sewage backup or a pipe that has burst. Whatever the case, you should get it drained quickly.
Standing water is a vector for all kinds of diseases and illnesses. Standing water not only contains numerous pathogens, bacteria, and contaminants but it’s also home to pests of all kinds. All of this combines to make quite a nasty and dangerous soup. Here is a list of some of the diseases and illnesses you can catch from standing water.
Malaria and Dengue
Standing water provides the perfect environment for mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitoes are the main proponents of the malaria and dengue virus. Both are diseases which continue to kill millions every year. Mosquito breeding season coincides with the rainy season when flooding is most common. Getting the water drained will rob the mosquitoes of water to lay their eggs in.
Flesh Eating Bacteria
Floodwaters can become home to deadly and life threatening flesh eating bacteria. There are too many species to name here but all of them are serious risks to life. It is often very difficult—if not impossible—to treat them. Most cases require amputation to prevent their spread and in some cases even death.
Floodwaters are a nasty mix of chemical waste, raw sewage, and water from unknown sources. This mix is the perfect home for flesh eating bacteria so you should always exercise extreme caution with standing water.
Tetanus
Tetanus is another bacterial disease. It is caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani which is found in soil, ground, and dirt. The bacterium easily transmits in standing water and can infect much easier. All it requires is a little rip, tear, or break in the skin and it can infect you.
Tetanus causes muscle spasms, jaw lockups, and hinders muscle control. It affects the nerves of the muscles and can take weeks to recover if not treated promptly.
Dermatitis and Conjunctivitis
Dermatitis is an infectious skin condition and conjunctivitis is an infectious eye condition. Both can be developed with improper hygiene and contamination. The most common signs between them are swelling, inflammation, redness, and pain.
It is very easy to catch these conditions from standing water. The prevalence of bacteria and in standing floodwater makes you susceptible to infection.
Cholera and Diarrhea
These water borne diseases go hand in hand with dirty water. They are a common presence in parts of the world with inadequate access to clean water. The main pathogens here are E.coli and salmonella. These bacteria can cause these conditions and wreck a person’s gastrointestinal system.
Conclusion
These are just some of the dangerous diseases that can happen from standing water. Even if the source of the standing water was clean, it can become dangerous with time.
