Different exposures, different risks
Contaminated food and water can cause diarrhoeal illness or food poisoning. Contact with contaminated water or soil is relevant to leptospirosis and some skin or eye problems. Close contact in shared shelters can help respiratory infections spread.
- Discard food that has touched floodwater.
- Remove water-holding containers that can become mosquito breeding sites after water recedes.
- Remember drowning, electrical and animal hazards as well as infection.
When staying in an affected area
Avoid unnecessary wading. Wash hands with clean water and soap after contact with floodwater. Choose safe drinking water and thoroughly cooked food. Do not use floodwater to brush teeth or clean utensils.
- Keep children out of floodwater.
- Check electrical safety before cleaning.
- Ventilate shared spaces and keep personal items separate.
What to tell a healthcare professional
Record when symptoms began, any fever, diarrhoea, wounds or rash, and when you touched floodwater or mud. Mention existing conditions and medicines. This history helps guide assessment and testing.
- Do not wait for an online article or home test to confirm an illness before seeking care.
- Read the fever-after-floodwater guide for symptoms that need prompt attention.
Sources
- Thailand DDC: health precautions during floods
- WHO: Floods — How to protect your health
- WHO: Public health advice in the aftermath of flooding
Sources checked on 29 September 2026. General guidance, not a live outbreak report.