The University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL) distributed hundreds of water testing kits to all county health departments affected by the flooding for this testing. These kits include supplies and instructions for collection and mailing of samples to the Lab on the Oakdale Campus, just north of Iowa City. Contact your county health department to obtain a kit.

Floodwater may contain fecal material from overflowing sewage systems, agricultural run-off and industrial byproducts. Sewage contaminated floodwater is likely to contain microorganisms that can make people and animals sick, especially if ingested.

Do not attempt to test water from a private well until after the water has receded. Once it has receded, wells need to be flushed, shock chlorinated and then tested for drinking safety tests (coliform bacteria and E.coli) to ensure the water is safe to drink.

Common illnesses that can occur from exposure to floodwaters include:

• Gastrointestinal illnesses following ingestion of contaminated water or food;
• Skin and tissue infections following superficial cuts, scratches, abrasions, or insect bites; and
• Deep tissue infections following puncture wounds or trauma.

The UHL also provides consultation on disease prevention, water and food safety, and disinfection of environmental surfaces. These services are particularly helpful to homeowners and businesses as they resume operations following a flood. The toll-free number for the Hygienic Lab is 800-421-IOWA (4692).

The Iowa Department of Public Health provides detailed information about precautions to following recovery and clean-up following a flood on their website at www.idph.state.ia.us.

Additional information about health concerns related to flooding is also available on the University of Iowa Flood Blog at uiflood.blogspot.com and on the UHL home page at www.uhl.uiowa.edu.

The University Hygienic Laboratory is part of the University of Iowa and is the state of Iowa's environmental and public health laboratory. The UHL is the designated laboratory for the Iowa Neonatal Metabolic Screening Program, with facilities located on the Oakdale Campus in Iowa City and at the Iowa Lab Facilities in Ankeny, a Des Moines suburb. Among its many services, the laboratory functions as a consultative and analytical support facility for state agencies, health professionals and citizens. The UHL performs analyses on samples from virtually all matrices, including human clinical specimens, air, drinking water, wastewater, soil, sediment, industrial effluents, oil and fish.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pat Blake, 319-335-4177 or 319-721-0000, patricia-blake@uiowa.edu.