In the aftermath floods, public health officials often monitor for waterborne illnesses, especially in communities where drinking and wastewater treatment plants were off-line for a period of time. Waterborne illnesses caused by various bacteria, viruses and protozoa usually occur as a result of inadequately treated drinking and wastewater. Human symptoms for waterborne illnesses range from fever and malaise to the better known gastro- intestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach aches. At the time of the Midwest flood of 1993, floodwaters churned up a lot of debris from river bottoms and carried loads of organic and inorganic materials to the surface.
Most waterborne illnesses cause common symptoms.
Loss of weight and fatigue may accompany several of the viral illnesses. Normally, the human intestinal tracts contains many types of harmless bacteria that the body routinely eliminates. However when humans have prolonged exposures to the pathogens, such as in disaster situations or changes in personal hygiene habits, the pathogens can become opportunistic and cause illness. Generally, the incidence of waterborne illness in the United States is low compared to other major causes of illness. But when a natural disaster hits, waterborne agents can cause widespread illness and discomfort and in some cases, death.