Typhoon Maysak (Chedeng) Philippines Update: 6 Diseases & Prevention During Typhoons

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Tropical Typhoon "Chedeng", internationally known as Maysak, has "slightly weakened as it continues to move in a west-northwest direction," according to a public alert made by the Philippines state weather bureau PAGASA.

In an ABS-CBN news report, as of 10 a.m. in the Philippines, the typhoon carried a maximum wind speed of 175 km/hour with a gust of up to 210 kph. It was stated that as the typhoon entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) last Wednesday night, the typhoon shrunk from a diameter of 600 kilometers to 500 kilometers.

PAGASA further stated that they expect Chedeng to slow down as it approaches the eastern seaboard of Luzon, and "lose intensity" when it landfalls either on Saturday night or Sunday morning.

In preparation for any natural disaster, it is better to be prepared. Here are 6 diseases and prevention tips during typhoons:

Water-Borne Diseases - Diarrhea and Leptospirosis

Strong winds and outpour of rain might contaminate drinking sources and pollute it with water-borne diseases that could cause diarrhea and leptospirosis, according to United Nations University. Diarrhoeal epidemics could be caused by fecal contamination or poor sanitary practices due to sharing of cooking and drinking utensils.

Prevention:

Follow the Store, Isolate, Treat (S.I.T.) method by the Jordan Valley Water District. If there is no stored water on hand, you can boil contaminated water to kill harmful pathogens. You need to boil water longer when your location is higher. It takes as much as 12 minutes of boiling if you're in the mountains. Make sure to cool the treated water before drinking.

Aside from boiling water, there are other methods to disinfect water such as chemical sterilization, use purifying water filters, and through low-tech natural filters, according to When Technology Fails.

Vector-Borne Diseases - Dengue, Malaria, West Nile Fever

The prevalence of floods brought about by typhoons may cause vector-borne diseases. Standing water may breed potentially lethal mosquitoes that could bring dengue, malaria, and West Nile fever. In the wake of the destruction of homes, lack of adequate housing may expose evacuees to these mosquitoes and begin an epidemic, according to WHO.

Prevention:

Eliminate any potential breeding grounds by getting rid of standing water. A good way to start would be getting rid of any debris or objects that could hold water such as gutters, artificial containers, old tires, water dishes, etc., according to the Penn State Pesticide Education Blog. In extreme measures, mosquito fogging or larvicides can be used as mosquito control.

Injuries - Tetanus

It is not uncommon to contract tetanus from an injury caused by natural disasters such as typhoons, according to WHO.

Prevention

Make sure to update tetanus vaccinations. Getting tetanus booster shots is recommended for people who were already vaccinated but have sustained wounds that could cause tetanus.

Get more Typhoon Chedeng live updates via PAGASA-DOST's twitter account.