Microbial Risk Assessment of Tidal−Induced Urban Flooding in Can Tho City (Mekong Delta, Vietnam)

Abstract

Public health risks from urban flooding are a global concern. Contaminated floodwater may expose residents living in cities as they are in direct contact with the water. However, the recent literature does not provide much information about this issue, especially for developing countries. In this paper, the health risk due to a flood event occurred in Can Tho City (Mekong Delta, Vietnam) on 7 October 2013 was investigated. The Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment method was used in this study. The data showed that the pathogen concentrations were highly variable during the flood event and exceeded water standards for surface water. Per 10,000 people in contact with the floodwater, we found Salmonella caused the highest number of infections to adults and children (137 and 374, respectively), while E. coli caused 4 and 12 cases, per single event, respectively. The results show that further investigations on health risk related to flood issues in Can Tho City are required, especially because of climate change and urbanization. In addition, activities to raise awareness- about floods, e.g., “living with floods”, in the Mekong Delta should also consider health risk issues.

Over half of known human pathogenic diseases can be aggravated by climate change

“…Heatwaves, for instance, by increasing recreational water-related activities, have been associated with rising cases of several waterborne diseases such as Vibrio -associated infections 47 , primary amoebic meningoencephalitis 48 and gastroenteritis 49 . Storms, floods and sea level rise caused human displacements implicated in cases of leptospirosis 50 , cryptosporidiosis 51 , Lassa fever 52 , giardiasis 53 , gastroenteritis 54 , Legionnaires’ diseases 53 , cholera 55 , salmonellosis 56 , shigellosis 56 , pneumonia 57 , typhoid 58 , hepatitis 58 , respiratory disease 50 and skin diseases 50 among others. Land use changes facilitated human encroachment into wild areas and created new ecotones that brought people into closer proximity to vectors and pathogens 59 , leading to numerous disease outbreaks such as Ebola 60 , scrub typhus 61 , Queensland tick typhus 61 , Lyme disease 62 , malaria 63 and so on.…”

Development of an Efficient Modelling Approach to Support Economically and Socially Acceptable Flood Risk Reduction in Coastal Cities: Can Tho City, Mekong Delta, Vietnam

“…Additionally, there is evidence of floods affecting the health of people in Can Tho, which could also be explored from a public health point of view (Nguyen et al, 2017a).…”

“…There is evidence of floods affecting the health of people in Can Tho, which could also be explored from a public health point of view (Nguyen et al, 2017a). This is because the floodwater quality at many locations in Can Tho is significantly affected by contamination with pollutants from sewage (Nguyen et al, 2017b).…”

Instant Flood Risk Modelling (Inform) Tool for Co-Design of Flood Risk Management Strategies with Stakeholders in Can Tho City, Vietnam

“…There is evidence of floods affecting the health of people in Can Tho, which could also be explored from a public health point of view [55]. Inform can be improved to assess the contribution of, flood risk, on public health and quantifying the associated health risk in the urban center of Can Tho.…”