With many areas of the state working to recover from the flooding caused by recent rainfall and melting snow, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is advising impacted residents to exercise caution, as flooding brings an increased chance of illness. According to agency officials, maintaining personal hygiene plays an important role in reducing the risk of infection. The department says proper hand washing, bathing, clothes washing, dental hygiene and wound care are key to keeping individuals in flooded regions safe and healthy. Food contamination can also be an issue. Flood waters can carry mud, raw sewage, chemicals and fuel, and their recommendation is to throw out any food that came in contact with potential tainted waters. For more information, follow the link included on our website.
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https://idph.iowa.gov/flooding
