Be wary of post-rain diseases, residents urged

While noting potential health hazards in the aftermath of the flood that took place on Monday, the BVI Red Cross is urging members of the public to wear protective gears while cleaning up.

The advice comes hours before a major territory clean-up and donation drive which kicks off tomorrow, August 12.

“We would just like to encourage persons to wear dust masks when you’re out doing the cleanup because the air right now is very polluted, and the odour that you’re getting from the wet mud, wet beds and sofas, and those types of things – it could cause airborne diseases,” said Director of the BVI Red Cross Helen Frett.

She further advised: “When you’re going out to do the cleanup, put on rubber boots if you can, because that will help to keep some of the debris and the germs from off of your body… I would just like to encourage persons to keep it safe by wearing the appropriate equipment.”

President of the Rotary Club of Tortola, Karia Christopher, in the meantime, said her organization has reached out to the health authorities.

“We recognise that we have just come off of a Zika and Chikungunya [outbreak], and we know there is water settled. So we’ve already made contact with Environmental Health to try to alleviate – at least from the Rotary aspect – those mosquito-borne diseases from spreading.”

“Obviously, we are not the body to champion the cause, but we can push and they have been very receptive,” Christopher further said.