No contagious disease outbreaks from floods

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No contagious disease outbreaks from floods

NorthJersey.com - Hackensack,NJ

By RICHARD COWEN

STAFF WRITER

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All that muck and mire left behind by flooding can be dangerous to

your health. But so far, so good, given the potential dangers.

As of Tuesday, there had been no outbreaks of contagious diseases

normally associated with flooding reported in Bergen, Passaic or

counties. But Hackensack University Medical Center did report

that several people from flooded areas have been treated in the

emergency room for respiratory ailments, presumed to be brought on

by mold or a reaction to cleaning chemicals.

" Physicians in the emergency trauma department at the medical center

saw patients involved in the flood who had experienced respiratory

difficulties during their cleanups of confined spaces and

basements, " said Dr. J. Nierenberg.

Since the storm hit, the Passaic County Health Department has been

contacting area hospitals, pharmacies, and monitoring 911 calls to

keep tabs on potential disease outbreaks. No news has been good news.

" So far, we haven't detected outbreaks, " said s, the

acting director of the Passaic County Health Department.

There have been a few scattered casualties, however. Among them is

Airel, 40, a Little Falls resident who last week waded into 4

feet of water lapping at the door of his house on Micklejohn Avenue.

He got sick the next day.

" I had a really bad headache and my heart was racing, " Airel

said. " I went to the doctor, and when he saw the cuts on my hand, he

said it was an infection from the water. " The doctor gave Airel a

prescription for antibiotics and he's feeling better.

Other symptoms of bacterial infection include nausea, vomiting,

fever and diarrhea, doctors say. Left untreated, bacterial

infections can be fatal.

The floodwaters have been replaced by mold and mildew that has

sprouted on walls, ceilings, carpets and furniture. And in hard-hit

towns like Wayne, Lodi and Lincoln Park, there remain large pools of

stagnant water coated with petroleum, sewer sludge, and who-knows-

what-else.

In Wayne, the township Web site is offering tips on how to disinfect

homes and decide what to throw out. Residents are advised to toss

out food, drugs and cosmetics tainted by floodwaters and are

cautioned not to move back in until their houses have been cleaned,

disinfected and thoroughly dried out.

The Red Cross also continued to tour hard-hit neighborhoods Tuesday

handing out cleaning supplies.

The most common dangers are infections from contaminated water,

respiratory problems from mold, and illnesses from eating spoiled

food. Residents also are at risk of accidental poisoning when using

household chemicals during the cleanup, health officials say.

Doctors also warn that flood-damaged items placed at curbside and

awaiting pickup are breeding grounds for mold, which when inhaled or

ingested, produces allergy-like symptoms that in rare cases can be

fatal.

Dr. J. Sperber, an infectious disease specialist at

Hackensack University Medical Center, said the warmer weather has

been a mixed blessing.

" On the one hand, the warmer temperatures will help dry the water, "

Sperber said.

" But on the other hand, it will make the mold grow. "

Sperber warned that mold is often invisible and otherwise hard to

detect.

" Just because it doesn't smell, doesn't mean there isn't mold, " he

said.

Mud may also contain toxins. Spraying water on the mud will help

dilute those toxins, Sperber said.

Staff Writer contributed to this article. E-mail:

cowen@...