People work to clear mud and debris from a street in Aldaia(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Spain floods: Disease fears in dirty waters as Valencia begins clean up operation

Experts say victims of the floods and volunteers helping in the clean up are all now at risk of suffering mosquito-borne diseases and skin infections, as well as gastroenteritis and Hepatitis A

by · The Mirror

Doctors are preparing for a wave of illnesses linked to stagnant water and filth following the Valencia floods.

Thousands of people's homes were flooded when the disaster hit last Tuesday, killing at least 218 people, before thousands of volunteers made their way to the worst hit areas in a bid to help with the clean-up operation. But experts say they are all now at risk of suffering mosquito-borne diseases and skin infections, as well as gastroenteritis and Hepatitis A.

They are now being urged to get vaccinated for Tetanus, while also facing warnings about Weil’s disease - a potentially-fatal blood infection contracted from animals, soil or water. Public health specialist Pedro Gullon said: “A flood of these characteristics brings public health problems we need to be aware of, linked mainly to the accumulation of water and sewage.

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Debris in a street in Sedavi, south of Valencia, eastern Spain( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

“In the first days and weeks the main problems that can occur are gastrointestinal which can be caused by contaminated water. Other problems for public health can appear in the stagnant water, like mosquitoes and so on which can transmit diseases.”

Many volunteers yesterday appeared to be heeding the warnings wearing masks and gloves while carrying on with the clean-up campaign. They include emergency service workers and soldiers who last night continued to search for bodies trapped in flooded underground car parks and under water.

The apocalyptic conditions have been described as the “perfect habitat” for a rapid rise in cockroaches, rats and mosquitoes.

A woman walks with her dog on flooded roadways following the deadly floods in Castelldefels near Barcelona( Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Epidemiologist Jose Maria Martin-Moreno said: “Stagnant water is the perfect habitat for the proliferation of mosquitoes and cockroaches, as well as rodents and organisms which can cause human beings infections.”

Describing the risk of sewage contaminating the water supply as another potential danger, he said: “The risks tend to worsen in the first 24 to 72 hours after the flood, although this varies with factors like temperature, the restoration of basic services and the cleaning measures adopted.”

Spain's prime minister Pedro Sánchez has described the floods as the worst natural disaster in Spain’s recent history and vowed all necessary resources will be mobilised to deal with its aftermath.

Residents receive food in Aldaia, west of Valencia( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The government yesterday approved a 10.6-billion-euro relief package, which will include direct payments of 20,000 euros to 60,000 euros to owners of damaged homes, as well as financial aid for businesses and municipal governments.

Sanchez has faced fierce criticism over the government's response to the crisis.

During a high-profile visit to the badly affected town of Paiporta on Sunday, furious residents threw mud at him, as well as King Felipe and Queen Letizia. There were also shouts of “Killers!” and “Get out!".

Speaking yesterday, he admitted: "We have a lot of work left to do, and we know it."