Department of Health urges residents to take precautions after Hurricane Ida - Mississippi ...

JACKSON, Mississippi - The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) continues to monitor the progress of Hurricane Ida. Major power outages, home repairs, and floods can create dangerous and potentially fatal situations.

MSDH residents should take the following precautions:

Food and water security

If your power goes out, there are several food and water safety tips you can follow to make sure what you eat and drink is safe:

• When the power is off for less than two hours, the food in your fridge and freezer is safe to eat. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food fresher longer.
• After two hours, a half-full freezer will keep food safe for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will keep food safe for 48 hours.
• After two hours, pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, sauce and leftovers in a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive styrofoam coolers are suitable for this.
• Drinking water for consumption, for cooking and for personal hygiene includes bottled, boiled or treated water. Look out for specific boiling water warnings in your area.
• Do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash hands, make ice cream, or make formulas. Whenever possible, use infant formula that does not need to be added to the water.
• Boiling water is the preferred way to kill harmful bacteria and parasites. Boiling water for 1 minute will kill most organisms.

Carbon monoxide

MSDH recommends the following precautions to prevent potentially fatal carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Do not burn charcoal or gas grills in a house, garage, vehicle, tent, or fireplace. Do not use gasoline generators or high-pressure cleaners in closed rooms, not even indoors or in the garage. If you suspect that you are experiencing symptoms of CO poisoning, such as dizziness, headache, or shortness of breath, open doors and windows, turn off gas appliances, and go outside. If you have severe CO poisoning, call 911 or the Mississippi Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Personal protection

When cleaning storm-damaged areas, be sure to wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes to avoid cuts and scratches from dirt. Do not let children play in the flood and do not throw anything that comes into contact with the flood away.

Any food (including plastic or glass), medication, cosmetics, or bottled water that has been exposed to flooding should be discarded. When in doubt, put it away. Intact cans can be completely sanitized with a quarter cup of bleach in a gallon of water and then used.

Around you

When cleaning up dirt in your home, make sure the stairs are safe before stepping on them to clean the roof and gutters. If you plan to use a chainsaw to remove debris, be sure to use the machine as directed. If you are injured call 9-1-1 or see a doctor right away.

Flooding can cause mold to grow in your home, which can lead to allergic reactions, asthma attacks, infections, and other respiratory problems. MSDH is not concerned with mold removal or control. You need to hire a private contractor to help you.

Information about tetanus:

The tetanus vaccination is recommended if it has been 10 years or more since your last tetanus vaccination (the Tdap vaccination is the recommended vaccination). If you have a stab wound or a wound contaminated by flooding, you should see a doctor.

Disinfection of private wells

Flood-affected homeowners who do not get their water supply from a public water system regulated by the MSDH should have their private wells inspected, disinfected and sampled to protect their health. For detailed instructions on how to disinfect your private well, visit the MSDH website at HealthyMS.com/wells .

The bacterium Vibrio vulnificus lives naturally in some coastal waters and is found in its highest concentrations between May and October when the water temperatures are warmer.

The Vibrio bacteria naturally live in some coastal waters and are present in their highest concentrations between May and October when the water temperatures are warmer.

Vibrio vulnificus can cause life-threatening wound infections. Many people infected with Vibrio vulnificus require intensive care or limb amputation, and about 1 in 5 infected people die, sometimes a day or two after becoming ill.

Anyone can get Vibrio wound infection, but some people are more likely to get an infection and have serious complications:

• You have liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia.
• Receive immunosuppressive therapy to treat the disease.
• Taking medication to lower stomach acid levels.
• He recently had an operation on his stomach.
• People with an increased risk of infection and serious complications from Vibrio bacteria should avoid wading or staying in brackish or salt water .

How can I prevent Vibrio wound infection if I have a wound?

You can reduce your risk of Vibrio wound infection by following these tips:

• If you have an injury (including from a recent surgery, piercing, or tattoo), avoid salty or brackish water whenever possible .
• Cover your wound with a waterproof bandage if it could come into contact with salt or brackish water. This can happen when a hurricane or storm surge causes flooding.
• Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water after coming in contact with salt water, brackish water, raw shellfish, or their juices.

See a doctor right away if you develop signs and symptoms of Vibrio infection, which may include:

• Watery diarrhea, often accompanied by stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
• For blood infections: fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure and inflamed skin lesions.
• For wound infections that can spread to the rest of the body: fever, redness, pain, swelling, heat, discoloration and discharge (loss of fluid).

The mosquitoes

Floods can overbreed mosquitoes, which means that insects can transmit diseases such as the West Nile virus.

The protective measures include:

• Wear long sleeved, leggy clothing with socks and shoes outside if possible;
• Use a mosquito repellent with DEET; follow the directions on the label; Products containing up to 35 percent DEET will provide adequate protection under most conditions;
• In children, use a repellent with a concentration of 10 percent or less DEET as recommended by the Academy of Pediatrics; follow the directions on the label;
• When outdoors, use a mosquito repellent with an EPA registered ingredient such as DEET; and
• Avoid mosquitos if possible; Stay indoors or take personal protective measures, especially between dusk and dawn.

For more information on storm safety, visit HealthyMS.com/afterstorm .

Follow MSDH on email and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect .

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Press contact: MSDH Office of Communications, (601) 576-7667
Media note: Outside business hours or in an emergency, call (601) 576-7400. at