December 01, Colombo (LNW): Public health officials have issued a fresh appeal to residents in areas inundated by recent flooding, urging them to take extra care with their drinking water and general household hygiene as recovery efforts continue.
Chamil Muthukuda, Secretary of the Public Health Inspectors’ Union, cautioned that groundwater sources such as wells are likely to be contaminated after days of overflowing drains and stagnant floodwater. He advised families to rely solely on boiled water for drinking and food preparation, noting that the risk of waterborne diseases, including diarrhoeal infections, rises sharply in the aftermath of such disasters. He also underscored that children, in particular, should be given only boiled water to minimise health risks.
Muthukuda added that floodwaters often leave behind conditions ideal for mosquitoes to breed, especially in pockets of still water around homes. With mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and chikungunya already a perennial concern, he encouraged households to clear debris, drain puddles, and maintain clean surroundings to curb the spread of disease.
He emphasised that vigilance over the coming days would be crucial, as maintaining safe water and preventing mosquito breeding could significantly reduce secondary health crises following the floods.
