Vermont residents living in the flooded towns ravaged by Hurricane Irene face medical challenges similar to those in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans or earthquake-stricken Haiti, albeit on a smaller scale, but no less serious, health experts told Newsmax Health.
“The flood victims in Vermont could face problems for years, just like the people in New Orleans are still dealing with problems left by Hurricane Katrina,” said Russell Blaylock, M.D., a nationally recognized board-certified neurosurgeon, who writes on wellness and environmental dangers, and is also the author of “The Blaylock Wellness Report.”
Arthur Fournier, M.D., professor and vice chair of family medicine and community health at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, echoed Dr. Blaylock’s viewpoint. “Many of the things we are seeing in a Third World country like Haiti have come to pass in the Vermont disaster. Who in a thousand years would have predicted that?”
In Vermont, 13 towns were stranded by flash flooding from last Sunday’s hurricane. Federal and state officials are now on site, inspecting damaged water and sewage treatment plans, and trying to assess chemical and hazardous materials risk.
Among the problems that Dr. Fournier expects in Vermont is pneumonia in flood victims who have lost their homes in the disaster. Also, he noted, “They may not be dealing with cholera, but they will have problems from salmonella and shigella,” which are intestinal diseases caused by eating contaminated food.
Contamination is of grave concern to victims’ health, Dr. Blaylock agreed. In Vermont, the people under order to boil their water should filter it as well, even after the water is declared safe, he said.
