In Gampaha district, waters are receding very slowly, especially in the worst affected areas like Kelaniya, Mahara, Ja-ela and Katana, where torrential rains fell uninterruptedly for more than a week. Refugee camps remain overcrowded.
Anura Jayasinghe, an epidemiological consultant with the Health Ministry, said, “Due to flooding, garbage pollutes fresh water sources, making them contaminated. Wells, lakes and streams are highly vulnerable.”
Since direct pipe-borne water and chlorination were affected by frequent power cuts, there is a high risk for typhoid, hepatitis A, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, chickenpox, viral flu, rabies, dengue and rat fever (Leptospirosis).
His advice is for people to monitor closely their health, careful to notice any symptoms that are typical of such diseases. Above all, everyone should boil water before drinking it.
Dr A. Balasooriva, a consultant community physician attached to the Health Education Bureau, also warned against eating fresh vegetables for the next few days, urging people to wash them well before consuming them.
Snakes are another problem. In Gampaha district alone, at least 30 people have been hospitalised because of snakebites, which they suffered especially after they went home to collect essential belongings.
Dr Teja Perera, from the Ragama Teaching Hospital, said that most of the victims were bitten by cobras and Russell’s vipers, but none died.