Health warning from experts following the flood disaster in Istanbul

Following the flood disaster caused by the highest rainfall seen in Istanbul since 1942, experts reported that caution must be exercised against the risks of drinking water contamination, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, and infectious diseases.

The heavy rainfall that paralyzed life in Istanbul last week resulted in loss of life. According to AKOM data, between 130 and 273.1 kilograms of rainfall fell per square meter, marking the highest precipitation level recorded since 1942. With the intense rainfall turning into floodwaters, Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Hasan Alyeşil stated that ground could be prepared for infectious diseases, and an increase might be observed in diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and upper respiratory tract infections. Experts also emphasized that one-third of flood-related deaths worldwide are not caused by the water itself, but rather by trauma, heart attacks, electrocution, carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, and subsequent hazards. While it was stated that unwashed vegetables and fruits should not be consumed and care must be taken against chemical or biological contamination of drinking water, the importance of early consultation against risks such as Hepatitis A, amoebic dysentery, norovirus, rotavirus, typhoid, cholera, leptospirosis, and eye and skin infections was conveyed.