Avoiding new pandemics by avoiding floods

Floods are the second-most widespread natural disaster on Earth, after wildfires, but?the one that causes the most economical losses. Not only these can cause loss of life and immediate damage to infrastructure and property, but also pose tremendous risks to public services, public health, biodiversity and the environment (incl. soil).??

Apart from their direct impact on communities and the environment, floodwaters can increase the conditions that favor the spread of disease outbreaks. This is because floodwaters carry a wide range of contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and sewage. These pollutants can contaminate drinking water sources, leading to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis. These organisms capable of producing diseases can also come into contact with people through the skin, the respiratory tract or the digestive tract, becoming dangerously present everywhere, and may also be transmitted by animals, such as rodents. Moreover, stagnant water provides a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes, raising the risk of illnesses like dengue fever and malaria.?

As floods also disrupt sanitation systems and damage healthcare infrastructure, it becomes challenging to provide timely medical assistance to affected and vulnerable populations. Displacement, overcrowding, and poor living conditions in temporary shelters heighten the risk of infectious diseases, respiratory illnesses, and mental health problems, on top making it difficult to access healthcare and clean water. Consequently, vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are particularly susceptible to these health hazards.?

Flooding can even create new diseases and new pandemics. For example, the COVID-19 virus and following pandemic is believed to have originated in a wild animal market in Wuhan, China, which was flooded in 2019, and may have helped spread the virus to humans.??

Recognizing and raising awareness about the interconnection between flood prevention and public health is thus crucial for safeguarding communities and reducing the potential for future pandemics.?

In sum, the main consequences of floods that have the potential to enable new pandemics:?

- Displacement and Migration: Floods can uproot communities. A mass displacement can result in overcrowding in temporary settlements, where physical distancing is challenging, and healthcare access is limited. Such conditions create a fertile ground for the transmission of infectious diseases, including new viruses.?

- Ecological Disruption: Floods can disrupt ecosystems, causing the displacement and mingling of animal populations, including those carrying diseases. This intermixing can facilitate the spillover of disease-provoking organisms from animals to humans, leading to the emergence of novel infectious diseases.?

- Waterborne and Foodborne Diseases: Floodwaters can contaminate water sources and agricultural lands, increasing the risk of waterborne and foodborne diseases. Inadequate sanitation and compromised food safety during flood events can lead to outbreaks of diseases that have the potential to turn into pandemics.?

This evidences why efficient flood prevention strategies are essential for mitigating the health risks associated with floods and reducing the likelihood of future pandemics.??

Here are some key measures that countries and communities should look into:

1. Early Warning Systems: Implementing robust early warning systems can provide communities with timely and accurate information about potential floods. This enables adequate preparation, evacuation, and allocation of resources to minimize health risks.??
2. Infrastructure and Drainage Systems: Investing in well-designed and well-built infrastructure and appropriate drainage systems can help manage and divert floodwaters effectively. Preventing water stagnation may reduce the breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry diseases, minimizing the risk of illnesses.?
3. Improved Sanitation and Water Management: Ensuring access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities is crucial in preventing waterborne diseases. Promoting hygiene practices and implementing water treatment measures can safeguard communities during and after flood events.?
4. Urban Planning and Land Use: Incorporating flood risk assessments into urban planning can help identify areas prone to flooding and inform appropriate land use policies. By avoiding the construction of critical infrastructure and settlements in flood-prone zones, we can significantly reduce the vulnerability to floods and associated health risks.?

Flood prediction software plays a pivotal role as they are able to predict how the water will behave and will affect infrastructure in a determined area, thus enabling early mitigation and adaptation measures. These types of software are also key for urban planning and flood risk assessments, where the evaluation of an area can be comprehensive in a manner such that no infrastructure meant for human occupation is built in places vulnerable to floods.??

Flood prevention measures protect public health and mitigate the risks of pandemics. It’s fundamental that countries address these risks and address the health implications floods may have, and that awareness is raised about their potential to exacerbate the emergence and spread of new pandemics as the one we have recently overcome. If we do not deal with these risks today, we may see history repeat itself.??