Spain: Fears grow over epidemic risk after catastrophic floods

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00It has been almost a week since devastating floods swept through the region of Valencia.

00:06Despite Spain's largest peacetime military deployment, humanitarian relief only reached

00:11some villages days after the flood wrecked people's homes.

00:15More than 1,000 volunteers flocked to the region to fill the gap left by emergency services.

00:21With residents and helpers falling sick, many now fear a crisis within a crisis.

00:28I think my nail is infected.

00:32He skinned his foot. I'm going to put a silver bandage on it. It's a powerful antibacterial.

00:40Contamination and disease is common in the aftermath of floods, as the smell of putrefaction

00:45fills the streets. Residents cleaning their homes risk catching infections as they spend

00:51their days wading through the mud.

00:55The mud contains faecal matter and dead animals and has been stagnant for several days. So

01:00the risk of skin infections increases, as does the risk of tetanus.

01:08The Ministry of Health has published a list of recommendations to avoid the outbreak of

01:13diseases. People are encouraged to wear face masks and gloves as well as rubber boots when

01:18taking part in the clean-up. Children, pregnant women or people with respiratory problems

01:23have been told not to take part in relief work.

Category

Transcript

Recommended