Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry. Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or a storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas. Floods can cause widespread devastation, resulting in loss of life and damages to personal property and critical public health infrastructure ...
Floods include river (fluvial) floods, flash floods, urban floods, pluvial floods, sewer floods, coastal floods, and glacial lake outburst floods”. Flash floods account for approximately 85% of the flooding cases worldwide and also have the highest mortality rate (defined as the number of deaths per number of people affected).
Since floods can potentially increase the transmission of water- and vector-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, malaria, and yellow fever, among others, it is important to know your risk and protect your water sources. The most common risks associated with flooding is the contamination of drinking-water facilities, and standing water, which can be a breeding site for mosquitoes ...
The devastating floods in Pakistan and their aftermath severely disrupted the delivery of health services, with 10% of the country’s health facilities either damaged or destroyed and more than eight million people in urgent need of health assistance. WHO has been on the ground responding to this crisis, where the risk of disease outbreaks and malnutrition is extremely high, focusing on ...
Public health advice on protecting your health before, during and after floods If you live in an area at risk of or affected by flooding, it is essential to take measures to protect your health and the health of your loved ones. Keeping safe during floods Avoid walking or driving through floodwater or entering unstable buildings or structures.