USA — Members of the public are at risk of catching illnesses from the flood water left behind by Hurricane Florence.<br /><br />Diarrheal diseases such as cryptosporidiosis, E.Coli or giardiasis could be caused by eating or drinking anything that have come into contact with the contaminated flood water, reports Journal-News.<br /><br />The different diarrheal diseases include symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea.<br /><br />Rashes and open wounds exposed to flood water also increase the risk of people being infected with tetanus, which is a bacterial infection that could break into the skin.<br /><br />Another illness people could contract by being in the flooded waters for too long is trench foot. This illness could cause pain, swelling and numbness.<br /><br />Stagnant flood waters is a gateway for bacteria to enter the body through any open wounds or injuries, ABC News reports.<br /><br />Officials are encouraging the public to try to avoid exposure to floodwaters, and to keep any open wounds as clean and as dry as possible.
