Body and mind: the probable health effects of the 2005 Carlisle flooding Dr Lorna Fewtrell

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Body and mind:the probable health effects of

the 2005 Carlisle flooding

Dr Lorna Fewtrell

Flooding:it’s enough to make you sick

Dr Lorna Fewtrell

Structure

Case study population Research areas (part 1) Quantitative microbial risk

assessment Research areas (part 2) Overall health impact assessment Thoughts to ponder

2005 flooding

Case study population

Denton Holme 725 homes <0.01 to 2.25 m Ave velocity

between 0.11 and 0.35 m/s

Case study population

Age profile Health status Long-term illness Occupancy level Housing type

Research areas

Contamination profile

Flood withdrawal & clean-up behaviour

Contamination profile

Contamination profile

Flood withdrawal & clean-up

Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of gastrointestinal illness

Reference pathogens

•Campylobacter•Cryptosporidium•Rotavirus

Dose-response relationships

Pathogen levels in floodwater

Exposure scenarios

•Flood phase •Clean-up phase

Disability adjusted life years (DALYs)

Summary measures of health Combines the length of time lived

with a disability with (if applicable) years of life lost through premature death

Different levels of disability are accounted for using severity weights

QMRA results

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

Flood phase Clean-up Flood phase Clean-up Flood phase Clean-up

Campylobacter Cryptosporidum Rotavirus

DA

LY

s

QMRA results

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

Flood phase Clean-up Flood phase Clean-up Flood phase Clean-up

Campylobacter Cryptosporidum Rotavirus

DA

LY

s

QMRA results

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

Flood phase Clean-up Flood phase Clean-up Flood phase Clean-up

Campylobacter Cryptosporidum Rotavirus

DA

LY

s

41

QMRA thoughts

41 cases of illness – 2.5% of the flooded population but less than 1% of the whole Denton

Holme population Assumptions

gloves are protective and reduce exposure to zero

rotavirus concentrations

Research areas

Contamination profile

Flood withdrawal & clean-up behaviour

Media analysis

Mental health study

Media analysis

Don’t let kids go in the water

Peril ... kids brave Oxford flood water that contains bacteria and viruses

Signs of E. coli in Mud After Cumbria Floods

A sample of mud from a house hit by the recent flooding in Cumbria has been found to contain the DNA ‘signature’ of bacterium E. coli 0157

EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds could die, says scientist

HUNDREDS of flood victims could be killed by a brew of terrifying bugs lurking in the murky water.

Virus expert Dr Ken Flint said potentially lethal bacteria like e.coli and salmonella would be left behind in the sludge in houses and streets for weeks or even months after the floods recede.

And he claimed the elderly, the very young and the infirm were at serious risk from gastroenteritis. Microbiologist Dr Flint added: "I expect to see three to four times the normal rate for these diseases in coming weeks. That would mean the potential for low hundreds of people dying."

His stark warning came as scientists found evidence of around a dozen dangerous viruses in flood water samples taken from swamped Gloucestershire streets.

Killer bugs in flood waters

Mental health study

Questionnaire survey Building on large survey conducted by the HPA

Number of standard instruments Psychological distress Anxiety Depression Probable post traumatic stress disorder

Three years after flooding

Overall health impact assessment

Quantifiable health effects

Overall health impact assessment

Quantifiable health effects

Case study population

HIA results

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Mental health Death Serious harm Minor injuries Asthma GI Earache

Health outcome

DA

LY

s

HIA results

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Mental health Death Serious harm Minor injuries Asthma GI Earache

Health outcome

DA

LY

s

Context

0

0.00002

0.00004

0.00006

0.00008

0.0001

0.00012

Lightening strike Drowning in the bath GI from HIA QMRA results Campylobacteriosis(morbidity & mortality)

DA

LY

s p

er p

erso

n

Context

0

0.00002

0.00004

0.00006

0.00008

0.0001

0.00012

Lightening strike Drowning in the bath GI from HIA QMRA results Campylobacteriosis(morbidity & mortality)

DA

LY

s p

er p

erso

n

Context

0

0.00002

0.00004

0.00006

0.00008

0.0001

0.00012

Lightening strike Drowning in the bath GI from HIA QMRA results Campylobacteriosis(morbidity & mortality)

DA

LY

s p

er p

erso

n

Context

0

0.00002

0.00004

0.00006

0.00008

0.0001

0.00012

Lightening strike Drowning in the bath GI from HIA QMRA results Campylobacteriosis(morbidity & mortality)

DA

LY

s p

er p

erso

n

It really is enough to make you sick

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

YLL from land transport accidents YLL from breast cancer DALYs Caldew flooding

Day

s o

f li

fe l

ost

It really is enough to make you sick

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

YLL from land transport accidents YLL from breast cancer DALYs Caldew flooding

Day

s o

f li

fe l

ost

It really is enough to make you sick

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

YLL from land transport accidents YLL from breast cancer DALYs Caldew flooding

Day

s

Thoughts to ponder

Deaths and serious injuries are picked up

Stomach upsets aren’t really a big deal but something the media can get their

teeth into Mental health problems aren’t

immediate

Thoughts to ponder

“Given the relatively mild nature of the flooding, the high prevalence rates [of mental health problems] identified in the present study may be questioned.” Mason et al., 2010

The psychological impact of exposure to floods. Psychology and Health 15, 61-73

Thoughts to ponder

The recovery process has been termed ‘the second disaster’

“that was the heartbreaking part of it. When they walked down the drive with crowbars in their hands I thought, ‘they aren’t going to be nice about this’ …”

And finally

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