Dr. Dana Mathew warns of contamination risks from Brevard County floodwater

Floodwater can carry sewage, chemicals and bacteria that cause serious infections, a Health First emergency medicine physician warned Monday as flooding affected Brevard County and Central Florida.“Floodwater is not the same as rainwater. It’s actually quite contaminated,” said Dr. Dana Mathew, a board-certified emergency medicine physician with Health First.Mathew said fertilizers, sewage and other contaminants make floodwater dangerous to enter, even for people who just want to splash around.“It’s not the same as jumping in puddles when you’re a kid,” she said.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, floodwater can also conceal sharp debris, downed power lines and displaced animals. Contact with contaminated water can cause wound infections, rashes and gastrointestinal illness.Swallowing contaminated water can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, potentially leading to dehydration that requires medical treatment, Mathew said.Open wounds increase infection riskMath