The Centers for Disease Control (hereafter referred to as the CDC) said today (the 25th) that recent heavy rains have caused flooding and standing water in many parts of the country. When residents clean up their homes, they may come into contact with contaminated water or mud, or disease‑carrying mosquitoes may breed in standing water, leading to outbreaks of leptospirosis, pseudotuberculosis, intestinal infections and dengue fever; the public is urged to implement the three‑step prevention measures “ensure proper equipment, watch food safety, eliminate breeding sites” when cleaning up, to stay away from infectious diseases.
The CDC explained that strong winds and heavy rain can expose pathogens such as leptospires and pseudotuberculosis in soil and muddy water to the surface, making them more easily spread. In addition to contact transmission, inhalation infection is also possible. When cleaning up, residents should wear waterproof gloves and rubber boots, and also wear a mask to avoid inhaling contaminated dust or water droplets. The agency also urges high‑risk groups—people with diabetes, lung disease, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, or compromised immune systems—to seek medical care promptly if they develop fever, cough, or other symptoms, and to inform the physician of any recent contact with contaminated water or mud to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
The CDC noted that if a water storage tank in a flood‑affected area becomes contaminated with sewage, it should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before refilling, and the water must be boiled completely before drinking; foods that have been soaked in water or thawed for too long should not be eaten. For the home environment, commercially available chlorine bleach can be diluted 1:100 for wiping surfaces; kitchen utensils and tableware should be boiled for disinfection, or disinfected by mixing 40 ml of bleach with 10 L of clean water, then rinsed thoroughly with clean water before use. Hand washing should follow the “wet, rub, rinse, squeeze, wipe” steps.
The CDC reminded that domestic cases of locally transmitted dengue fever have already been reported this year (2026). Coupled with the recent sustained high temperatures and post‑rain conditions that favor mosquito breeding, the public is urged to proactively inspect their homes after rain and implement the “inspect, dump, clean, brush” measures: carefully check indoor and outdoor areas for containers with standing water, empty the water, and remove unnecessary containers for recycling. If there are large discarded containers, contact the sanitation crew for removal. Containers that must be retained should be thoroughly scrubbed to remove mosquito eggs, then properly stored, dried, and placed upside down. If any suspected dengue symptoms appear—fever, headache, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, retro‑orbital pain, muscle or joint aches, rash—seek medical care promptly and voluntarily disclose activity history to enable early diagnosis and reporting.
Source: CDC
Data compiled by: Sensory Management Office
