“Two months and everything will be fine”

The water level in the Ural River in Orsk has fallen below dangerous levels, and as the water recedes, people are returning to their homes. What sanitary consequences of the disaster will they face? Epidemiologist Vadim Pokrovsky told Kommersant about this, as well as why it is better for owners of homes that were under water to boil bottled water, how to safely dispose of dead animals, and why washed-out cemeteries do not pose a health threat.

— How does a water spill over a large area threaten the population?

— Of course, first of all, this is flooding of the water supply system. Dirty water, including from the sewer, could get into the water supply. Therefore, it is very risky to consume tap water now. The main principle is to be sure to boil any water you drink. It is also advisable to wash vegetables and fruits with boiled water, since pathogenic microorganisms of the intestinal group may remain on them. They are the ones that pose the greatest danger to human health during a flood.

— Does boiling water completely eliminate the risk of infection?

– This is the most reliable method that destroys almost all pathogens of intestinal infections. You can also use bottled water. On the other hand, there is a risk that someone, taking advantage of the situation, will begin to spill tap water and pass it off as having undergone special purification. Therefore, if possible, it is also better to boil bottled water.

— Are other contacts with tap water acceptable? For example, wash your hands.

— Of course, you need to wash your hands with soap, this reduces the risk of infection. The best option would be to rinse them with boiled water afterwards. And of course, you should follow the usual hygiene standards, first of all, carefully work with food products so that no infection can get there.

— Vice-Governor of the Orenburg Region for Social Policy – Minister of Health Tatyana Savinova previously reported that 27 cases of intestinal infection were recorded in Orsk. Doctors did not record a surge. Is there any reason to believe there could be more infections?

— A certain amount of intestinal infections always occurs. If there were severe cases, people would undoubtedly go to medical institutions. So I don’t yet see that any dangerous situation has arisen: the sanitary services have had time to prepare and take care of the supply of clean water.

— In Orsk they started vaccinating residents against hepatitis A. Is this the most important anti-epidemic measure during a flood? What other measures need to be taken?

— Hepatitis And just an intestinal infection that is transmitted through water is another additional protective measure. It will remain in effect even after the flood, so the benefits of this event are undoubted.

– What about diphtheria, tetanus? Shouldn’t we be afraid of them?

— Diphtheria is transmitted by airborne droplets, there is no obvious danger associated with flooding. Tetanus occurs when there is injury, dirt or dirt gets into the wound, so you shouldn’t expect an increase in such cases either.

— People return home and find dead pets. What are the consequences associated with this?

“We must, of course, remove these bodies.” But dead animals only pose a danger when people touch them with their hands. If you carefully bury them, wearing gloves, there is nothing dangerous. These are usually drowned animals. The problem would be an outbreak of infection among animals. Then, of course, additional measures would be needed.

— Cemeteries and cattle burial grounds have been washed away. What risks are there in this regard?

— There is such a misconception, even among educated people, that there is cadaveric poison and graves are dangerous. But cases of alleged infection during excavations are more a matter of fiction. It’s definitely unpleasant to see all these washouts, but they certainly don’t pose a direct danger.

— Is living in houses with wet walls really good for your health?

“Again, it’s not very pleasant to live with wet walls, and the risk of hypothermia seems to increase, but nevertheless, this also does not pose any serious danger.

— So it’s not scary to breathe mold?

— Unfortunately, we breathe mold, even when our bread is stale. And in general, nothing bad happens. Mold disappears as it dries. Summer is coming, and the sun will undoubtedly be a factor that will fight mold well. Summer in these areas is quite hot; I think by autumn there will be no more damp rooms left.

— From a sanitary point of view, what is the correct way to treat a house or apartment you are returning to after the water has receded?

– This is a routine cleaning of various debris that could have been brought in by water. We always recommend cleaning with gloves and masks, especially if there is any dust. But again, there is nothing dangerous here from an epidemiological point of view.

— How long do people feel the effects of floods of this scale?

“As for the overall consequences, everything will depend on the degree of destruction of each building. As for drinking water, control measurements will be carried out; based on the number of E. coli, they will determine where there could have been flooding and where dirty water got into the water supply. And of course, such “suspicious” systems will be cleaned and checked. I believe that in two months everything will be fine.

Interviewed by Natalya Kostarnova