Connect with us

Latest News

Tropical Storm Imelda Mold: Houston Dwellers Risk Catching Deadly Infection

Published

on

Tropical Storm Imelda Mold: Houston Dwellers Risk Catching Deadly Infection

In September of this year, Tropical Storm Imelda ravaged the Houston area, causing at least 5 fatalities, stranding thousands, and canceling over 900 flights. Jefferson County alone received more than 40 inches of rain in just 3 days, triggering mass flooding throughout the city.  

Many people had to wade through treacherous waters in order to make it to safety, while others, depicted in a viral video on social media, found a way to have some fun diving from a bridge into a flooded out highway. However, after a tropical medicine specialist at the Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn saw the video, she could only think of all the dangerous infections the divers were at risk of needlessly contracting. 

Those not interested in diving off a bridge for fun are not completely in the clear though and are still at risk of contracting an infection even long after the hurricane is over. That is why for any family whose house incurred any amount of water during the storm, they should definitely get it checked out by mold inspection & testing Houston.

Hurricanes and the Risk of Spreading Infection

What is potentially lurking in the water? Dr. Woc-Colburn says that people exposed to the floodwaters are at risk of contracting staph, fungal and bacterial infections, vibrio, and Leptospira. 

In an interview, she asserts that, especially for the considerably warmer Houston area, those exposed to water are at a greater risk of contracting the potentially deadly infection, vibrio. Those with weakened immune systems such as pregnant women, the elderly, those with liver disease, or those suffering from chronic infections are even more likely to contract vibrio, as are those with open wounds, scrapes, or cuts. Diabetic individuals are also at greater risk due to their poor blood circulation.

Symptoms and Treatments

Initial symptoms of a Vibrio infection may not seem so out of the norm, as it begins with small red blisters on the surface of the skin and is often followed by fever and fatigue. If treated early on, it only needs about three days for an individual to make a full recovery. However, if left too long before being treated, the outcome could be devastating. In some cases, the infected area of the body must be amputated and in worst cases the infection is fatal. 

Another bacterial disease that can be contracted from floodwaters is Leptospirosis, which is usually caused by water contaminated with bacteria from animal stool or pesticides. The scary part about this one is that it often comes with no apparent symptoms. If the infection worsens, patients often experience common flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches, vomiting, chills, high fever, and diarrhea. 

Importance of Mold Inspection & Testing Houston

With the city’s already humid climate, flooding only makes the risk of dangerous infections astronomically worse, which is why it is crucial to public safety for flooded houses to be checked by Mold Inspection & Testing Houston. It is important to also remember that healthy people are not totally immune to flood water infections, and they should definitely not be diving or playing in standing water. Infections can also develop in the months following a major flood event, potentially causing complications six to 12 months after a massive storm. For individuals, simply making sure to empty all standing water,  getting the house checked for mold, and airing out drywall can go a long way in mitigating the risk of contracting a deadly infection. 

Advertisement

Trending

error: Content is protected !!