The floods caused by DANA in Valencia have created an environment conducive to the proliferation of infectious diseases. The factors that increase this risk include stagnant water, the accumulation of waste and contact with contaminated water, which favor the transmission of gastrointestinal, dermatological and respiratory infections. Given this situation, the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain recommends to health authorities and citizens in general:
–Intensive epidemiological surveillance: Urge public health systems to implement active surveillance protocols for the early identification and control of possible infectious outbreaks.
–Hygiene and disinfection measures: People are encouraged to avoid contact with stagnant water and to the authorities to adequately deratize any area affected by the floods. Individual protection is crucial shoes, gloves and masksas well as frequent hand washing and drinking bottled water until the potability of ordinary tap water is guaranteed.
–Restoration of Primary Care and access to medicines: The most vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, children and the elderly, must be assured of basic medical care, which includes maternal and child health, as well as care and coverage for chronic diseases.
–Prevention of infectious diseases: to individual protection, vaccination programs must be added that, according to the state of the situation, the health authorities consider relevant.
–Prevention of vector-borne diseases: Being a pre-winter period, insect control should be considered next spring. Instead, rodent control should be included in this acute phase.
The Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain also recalls that the consequences of DANA have a considerable psychological impact on affected people, who may experience stress, anxiety, insomnia and symptoms related to trauma. Therefore, he recommends:
–Psychological support network: The implementation of psychological support teams in the affected areas to provide emotional assistance to people who need it. It is essential to have professionals who can guide the population in the management of post-traumatic stress to avoid future mental disorders.
–Building community resilience: The development of community and mutual support activities is suggested that help affected people process what happened and find spaces of security and emotional recovery based on empathy and the verbalization of their emotions.
–Attention to vulnerable groups: Pay special attention to the most vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly and people with previous illnesses, including psychiatric ones, who may have greater difficulties in coping with the psychological effects of the crisis.
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