Although infectious diseases are a frightening prospect, widespread outbreaks of infectious disease after hurricanes are likely to happen. Communicable disease such as the outbreak of diarrhea and other respiratory illness can occur when water and sewage systems have been compromised and personal hygiene is hard to maintain as a result of a disaster.

Short bouts of diarrhea and upset stomach and colds or other breathing diseases sometimes occur after a natural disaster, particularly among large groups of people in a shelter. Which is why it is important to practise basic hygiene measures like frequent hand washing or use of an alcohol hand gel, especially after using the restroom or changing diapers and before eating, in order to prevent these diseases.

Other diseases like cholera or typhoid do not typically occur after a natural disaster, unless such a disease was brought into a disaster area from elsewhere. In the event of such an outbreak, it is likely that the diseases was already in the disaster affected area before the disaster struck.

Be on the alert and do your part to prevent the spread of infectious diseases after a hurricane.

Adopted from CDC’s Key Facts About Hurricane Recovery: Protect Your Health and Safety After a Hurricane (www.cdc.gov)