The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) continues to monitor the Mississippi River flooding and any health impact it may have on the residents of Mississippi. “We intend to enhance our monitoring in the affected areas to identify any potential illnesses that would be related to the flood or clean-up,” said Acting State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. “MSDH will keep the public and medical community informed.”
MSDH recommends residents in flood zones:
Prescriptions and other medical care:
If you need prescriptions or other medical care, contact:
- Your physician’s office
- Local physicians in the area you have evacuated to
- The local healthcare system in the area you have evacuated to, such as hospitals or clinics
Dialysis Services:
- If you are a dialysis patient and have been ordered to evacuate, check with your physician’s office for information on your dialysis treatment. Your doctor should make arrangements for continued treatment while you are evacuated.
- Dialysis patients with concerns about maintaining their routine dialysis schedule or the availability of dialysis facilities for evacuees should call this toll-free number: 1-877-936-9260.
Tetanus information:
Tetanus vaccination is recommended if it’s been 10 years or more since your last tetanus vaccination (Tdap is the recommended vaccine). In the event of a puncture wound or wound contaminated with floodwater, individuals should consult a healthcare provider. Tetanus vaccinations are available at all county health departments.
Snakes:
If you come in contact with a snake, do not attempt to catch or kill the snake. Slowly back away from the snake. If you are bitten by a snake:
- Do not attempt to cut the bite area.
- Do not suck the bitten area.
- Do not apply ice to the bitten area.
- Do not apply a tourniquet.
- Call 911 immediately. Lay the person flat and keep the bitten part of the body at the level of the rest of the body. Do not elevate or dangle a bitten arm or leg.
- According to the University of Mississippi Medical Center there is plenty of antivenin available.
For more information on flood safety, visit www.HealthyMS.com. Also, look for MSDH on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthyMS and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/msdh.
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