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Wednesday 25 July 2007

Now victims of deluge are warned of virus danger

Daily Mail Headline; says: 'Fears are growing growing today that contaminated floodwater could lead to a major outbreak of disease. Health bosses say hundreds of thousands of flood victims now face an increased risk from bugs in contaminated water. They claim that the failure of sewage plants could lead to the spread of microorganisms such as the noroviruses, which cause gastroenteritis and winter vomiting disease. Health Protection Agency officials today advised people living in affected areas to prevent their children from playing in the floodwater, to wear protective clothing and to take special precautions when preparing infant formula milk. The water may have been contaminated with sewage, animal waste and other potential toxins, the agency said.

Tony Thompson, head of emergency response for the Red Cross, said: "If you even handle floodwater you should disinfect yourself. It should be treated as potentially poisonous.î

Dr Peter Wyn-Jones, a microbiologist at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, said: "Under flood conditions we have a large mixing bowl.The flooded rivers compromise sewage treatment plants and the sewage will not be treated properly. It will just be mixing with the flooded river water."