The assistant professor of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the University of Athens spoke about the risk of disease transmission in the flooded areas, Gikas Majorkini, to the ERT news bulletin and to journalist Giorgos Kouvaras.

Mr. Majorkinis pointed out that basic risk in the first phase are the gastroenteritis, due to the contact of the water with germs from the drains. Regarding the 46 cases of gastroenteritis announced today, Mrs. Agapidaki stated: “I don’t know if this number is much higher than expected for the season because gastroenteritis does exist anyway.”

In fact, he emphasized that any contact with contaminated drinking water or stagnant water through the mouth or eyes. carries the risk of transmission, not only consumption but also use for brushing teeth etc.

There is also a fear of hepatitis, mainly hepatitis A and E, although fortunately no cases have yet been reported. There is a vaccine for hepatitis A, so logically most people have had it in their childhood.

In addition, in other cases of flooding, an increase in leptospirosis cases has been reported, due to the death of rodents (mice, rats) that carry the disease. However, this increase is not expected to be seen immediately, because the incubation time is 7-14 days.

The professor advised the residents of the affected areas not to come into contact with the mud without wearing protective shoes and waterproof pants and not to come into contact with the dead animals

Regarding mosquitoes, he stressed that the conditions favor the proliferation of mosquitoes. And because the region is endemic for West Nile virus, we will probably see an increase in cases in the coming days or weeks.