Skin diseases are spreading among residents of flood-hit areas because of exposure to contaminated water.
In many villages, the muddy floodwaters brought by Typhoon Morakot have yet to recede, and some residents have been trudging through the water for hours each day as they clean up their communities.
Experts say the water has been contaminated by garbage and animal corpses. Dangerous bacteria in the water can cause serious infections if it enters the body, for example through a wound.
One 70-year-old resident of Linbian Township (林邊) in Pingtung County said he had not been able to sleep because his arms itch constantly from contact with the water. The man has developed dermatitis.
One woman’s feet were blistering after wearing rain boots for 10 days in a row. She had also contracted dermatitis from contact with floodwater.
Numerous villagers have consulted doctors in the area about inflammatory rashes. Physicians warned that anybody with similar symptoms should seek treatment immediately to prevent any infection from spreading.
Children and elderly people are at particular risk of contracting the fungal skin infection tinea, which causes itchiness and pealing skin.
Doctors have also cautioned residents in flooded areas against drinking contaminated water.
Authorities are concerned that some residents may use groundwater or springwater. They said those sources were contaminated and could cause diseases.
Residents in areas where tap water has been restored should also be careful, experts said, because changes in water pipe pressure could suck dirty water into household pipes.
Excessive fluoride residue is another concern, experts said, and may cause asthma or other respiratory ailments.
Residents in flood-hit areas should boil tap water before using it.
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