In the wake of heavy rainfall and flood-like conditions across Gujarat, the state Health Department has issued a public advisory asking people to take precautions against waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases.
The department has advised residents to boil drinking water for 15–20 minutes or use chlorine tablets before consumption, as floodwaters may contaminate water supply pipelines. People have also been urged to avoid eating uncovered food, vegetables, or other food items that may have come into contact with rainwater.
Citizens have been asked to thoroughly clean and disinfect their homes after floodwaters recede. The advisory recommends sanitising floors and walls with bleaching powder or phenyl, cleaning water storage tanks before reuse, and safely disposing of flood-damaged mattresses, paper items, and other materials to prevent the spread of fungal and bacterial infections.
The Health Department has also urged people to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, severe muscle pain, or skin rashes. Residents have been advised to use ORS packets and health kits distributed by the authorities whenever needed.
To prevent mosquito-borne diseases, the department has appealed to citizens to ensure that water does not stagnate around their homes and to use mosquito nets, repellents, and full-sleeved clothing. It has also warned about the risk of leptospirosis and skin infections caused by contaminated water, advising people to wear protective footwear in waterlogged areas, wash thoroughly after exposure, and keep open wounds away from polluted water.