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We're talking about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina this week on Healthwatch. The winds and the storm surge are gone, and the flood waters are receding, but the hurricane's dangers linger. The flooded streets of New Orleans are heavily contaminated with bacteria and chemicals that could lead to disease. Standing water also provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which may spread disease.
Dr. Robert Haley, chief of epidemiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says people who have been exposed to the contaminated water are most likely to get common bacterial and viral diarrhea illnesses as well as hepatitis A, though there may be some cases of more exotic ailments.
The big health problem is water contaminated with sewage and chemicals, which is why government officials felt it was important to evacuate the city.
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September 2005
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