It's Been Raining in Zamboanga, Hindi Ka Ba Nagkasakit?
Rain in Zamboanga could be a silent killer masked as a cool relief for its overheated citizens.
Flash floods and heavy rain with no sign of ending anytime soon, these past few weeks have been plagued with strong rainfall and have caused the suspension of classes last August 17 (Dalipe, 2023) and the evacuation of 300 individuals from their homes due to the ‘habagat’ rains (Sadongdong, 2023).
Even in Chong Hua, no one is safe from the heavy rain, as many of the students and teachers find themselves trapped in their houses due to floods or difficult terrain to travel through. Apart from the usual dangers of flooding, there are various silent and slow-acting threats from the rain that could pose an equally worrying problem to the students and teachers of Chong Hua. From the onset of fevers to the spread of nasty diseases, the rain itself and the subsequent floods that come after it may not only be a hindrance to the students, but also a danger to their physical well-being.
Does rain actually make you sick?
During the rainy season, our parents have always told us to stay indoors and avoid the rain as much as possible so we don’t catch a cold or a fever. This misconception arises from the belief that rain itself directly induces illness. However, the reality is that rain's natural chilliness can lower the body's temperature, potentially leading to a fever. Moreover, it's important to note that rain typically does not serve as a breeding ground for viruses, bacteria, or other microbes that could trigger illnesses in the body (Millhone, 2023).
How and why do we get sick?
An infection is caused by the infiltration of foreign pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, or other microbes that enter the body and multiply. This causes the body to increase its temperature to fight the pathogen, which we recognize as a fever. The heat induces stress on the invaders while simultaneously exciting and stimulating the body’s immune cells; all of which is an effort to eliminate the foreign threat (Drexler, 2010).
How is this related to the rain? The rain causes the body’s overall temperature to decrease, which is a state wherein the body is vulnerable to infection from pathogens. The microbes are able to successfully infiltrate the body and thrive due to the colder environment. The body then induces a fever to activate the immune system, subsequently making you feel sick. The students may blame the rain for forcing them to miss their classes, but the rain is only an indirect cause of their fever and isn’t actually that harmful; it merely provides us with a chilly day, weakening the body.
Does rain actually spread diseases?
The rain itself is condensed moisture that falls from the sky; it does not consist of any disease-causing microorganisms. The floods and puddles of water caused by the consistent and strong rains are the real threats to the students of Chong Hua as they are what actually harbor multiple disease-causing microorganisms and animals.
These diseases can be separated into two categories of transmission, which are water-borne or vector-borne diseases. Water-borne diseases are transmitted through the infection or ingestion of pathogens via contaminated water, while vector-borne diseases are caused by pathogens that are transmitted through vectors or disease carriers such as mosquitoes and other animals (Cissé, 2019).
One of the commonly feared water-borne diseases that plague the waters around Zamboanga City is leptospirosis, which has taken the lives of 7 individuals and resulted in 73 cases from January to June of this year (Jocson, 2023). Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria from the genus Leptospira and is mainly spread by mice and other animals through the contamination of flood waters with their urine, which can be introduced into an individual’s body through cuts, abrasions, or any other openings in the skin. The symptoms of leptospirosis, which can be mistaken for other diseases, include the following:
Headache
Diarrhea
High fever
Rash
Chills
Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
Muscle aches
Vomiting
Red eyes
Abdominal pain
Some individuals may also be asymptomatic, and the later stages of leptospirosis can include other symptoms such as meningitis (the infection and inflammation of the fluid membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) and renal or liver failure (CDC, 2019).
Apart from the commonly feared leptospirosis, there are other lesser-known diseases that can contaminate the flood waters, such as other water-borne diseases like Typhoid fever and Cholera and vector-borne diseases like Malaria, Dengue, and Yellow fever (PCHRD, 2015).
The photo above shows an infographic by the American Journal of Clinical Medicine.
What can you do to prevent or treat these ailments?
To prevent yourself from getting sick during rainy days, you should try using rain gear such as a hooded jacket, raincoat, umbrella, and waterproof shoes to protect yourself from the cold rain. Take off all your clothes after getting caught in the rain so you will not get cold and immediately take a warm bath to clean yourself and help regulate your body temperature. Taking vitamin C, maintaining a healthy diet, and drinking lots of water help to strengthen the immune system and stay healthy (Makati Medical Center, 2022).
It is also important to know that the flood water and the puddles of water from the rain can contain various infectious pathogens. It is advisable to not wade and swim in these waters with an open wound and avoid contact if possible. Moreover, it is best to always wash your hands with soap and clean water before preparing, handling, or eating food and after using the toilet (Department of Health, 2019).
The rainy season may be a comforting time for many people, but whatever the rain brings can always prove to be dangerous to the well-being of all students and teachers of Chong Hua. The best thing we can do is be wary of misconceptions, be educated on what to do, and always be attentive when dealing with the rain. It's been raining in Zamboanga, be sure that ‘di ka magkakasakit.
Admin, M. (2022, July 29). Does Getting Wet from the Rain Make You Sick? - Blogs. Makati Medical Center. https://www.makatimed.net.ph/blogs/does-getting-wet-from-the-rain-make-you-sick/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Leptospirosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/index.html
Cissé, G. (2019). Food-borne and water-borne diseases under climate change in low- and middle-income countries: Further efforts needed for reducing environmental health exposure risks. Acta Tropica, 194(194), 181–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.03.012
Dalipe, J. (2023, August 17). Facebook. Www.facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/johnmdalipe/posts/pfbid0qVosFCJzBjYYpxeBzushKUT22N8eSBfPkSxmbLnY1SaQjcdJFzh6BnoRLJJY7AFLl
Department of Health. (DOH). (2019). PREPARE FOR THE RAINY SEASON - DOH. https://doh.gov.ph/node/17435
Drexler, M., & Medicine (US), I. of. (2010). How Infection Works. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209710/#:~:text=Infection%20occurs%20when%20viruses%2C%20bacteria
Jocson, L. (2023, July 20). Zamboanga City logs 7 leptospirosis fatalities. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/20/zamboanga-city-logs-7-leptospirosis-fatalities
Millhone, C. (2023, June 16). Does Getting Wet From Rain Make You Sick? Health. https://www.health.com/can-rain-make-you-sick-7504768#:~:text=It
Philippine Council for Health Research and Development. (2023). The Risks of Flooding: Protect yourself from floodwater diseases | Philippine Council for Health Research and Development. Dost.gov.ph. https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/news_and_updates/the-risks-of-flooding-protect-yourself-from-floodwater-diseases/#:~:text=WHO%20explains%20that%20water%2Dborne
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