1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: From the news room and news still come today. 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: Hey there, I'm Emily Waterson and I'm filling in for 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 2: mister Bucklow today. By now, I'm sure you've seen the 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 2: various devastating videos of people caught in the floodwaters and 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 2: storm surges across in all the New South Wales and 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 2: Southeast Queensland. We've been across at all here at news 7 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 2: dot com. But something else we've seen is footage of 8 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 2: people not so devastated as they make the most of 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 2: weather leading up to Cyclone Alfred. Amongst clips of flooded 10 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 2: roads and fallen trees, there's been surfing, driving, mudslide races, 11 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 2: you name it, and Ozzie has done it. But in 12 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 2: case you've missed it or have a normal social media 13 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: feed unlike myself, here's a glimpse of what's going on. 14 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 3: We've got some pool noodle, We've got this Cyclone Alfred 15 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 3: is here. We are live on Twitch right now. 16 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: We're going down to the beach and we are going 17 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: to attempt. 18 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 3: To be gone for a swim. 19 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: Do not try this, but come watch us be stupids 20 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 2: live on Twitch right now now. May play into the 21 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: laid back stereotype of Australians. But sometimes she'll be right, 22 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 2: isn't enough as there's some very dangerous and nasty going 23 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: on here that we tend to forget. It's not a 24 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 2: matter of if there's something in the water, but what 25 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 2: Well today, I've got an expert on to talk about 26 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 2: just that, and trust me, you'll be glad you listened. 27 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: Mark Blaskovich is a director of Translation at the Institute 28 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland and he 29 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 2: joins me. Now, so Mark, there's been quite a few 30 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 2: video circulating of people enduring the floods, fleeing from their homes, 31 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,119 Speaker 2: but there's also been footage of people who are willingly 32 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: going out there for a swim, diving into waters and 33 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: even enjoying themselves. Is it ever safe just wimin floodwaters, 34 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 2: even if it. 35 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 3: Looks clean, Yeah, it's I mean, it's probably not a 36 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 3: good idea. The chances are that things will be fine, 37 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 3: but the floodwaters will have passed through a lot of 38 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 3: areas that they can pick up bacteria and sometimes viruses 39 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 3: and sometimes parasites which if they're able to get into 40 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 3: your body, potentially could do nasty things. 41 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: And like quite nasty as well. Right, this can be 42 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 2: a pretty severe infection if you come into Yeah. 43 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 3: So there's a range of different things that can happen, 44 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 3: and probably the most common one is because you know, 45 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 3: the floods in urban areas, the sewage catchments are exceeding 46 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 3: their ability to get rid of sewage, and so you're 47 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 3: starting to get raw sewage mixed with the flood waters. 48 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 3: They're coming out of rural areas to begin with, and 49 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 3: so they're going over you know, fields where cows manure 50 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 3: is sitting in. So in particular, bacteria called Ecoli starts 51 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 3: contaminating the water and gets too much higher levels than 52 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 3: is normally present an E. Coli, if you ingest it 53 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 3: gets into your system, can cause gastro intestinal illnesses if 54 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 3: you have cuts or open wounds on your body. That's 55 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 3: the other big concern because bacteria that are in the 56 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 3: water can then get into your body, which normally has 57 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 3: you know, mechanisms to get the bacteria away from areas 58 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 3: they're not meant to be, but having enough cut or 59 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:06,959 Speaker 3: an open sore allows the bacteria to get inside and 60 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 3: potentially get the bloodstream where you can now get bacterial 61 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 3: infection within your blood which could lead to sepsis and 62 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 3: needed hostilization and intensive antibiotic therapy to get rid of it. 63 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: Again, Are there any other types? 64 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 3: The other type is a bacteria called staff aureus sometimes 65 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 3: not all those golden staff or one of the resistant 66 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: forms of it, and that leads to it gets into 67 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 3: cuts in particular and causes infections within cuts on the skin, 68 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 3: and so that's also something you obviously don't want to have. 69 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 2: Okay, So it sounds like it might be hard to 70 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 2: avoid altogether if you're moving around these floodwaters. Are there 71 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 2: any precautions or preparations you can take to lessen your 72 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 2: chances of coming into contact with these infections and bacterias. 73 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, So the most important one is if you're you know, 74 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 3: if you do have an open cut or sore, make 75 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 3: sure covered with a bandage and try keeping it away 76 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 3: from water as much as possible. Probably the most important 77 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 3: thing if you're walking in floodwater is make sure you 78 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 3: have on good footwear because obviously stepping on sharp objects 79 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 3: that are being disturbed by the flood's a great way 80 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 3: to get a cut and in the floodwater, which immediately 81 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 3: then lets anything nasty in the floodwater get into your 82 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 3: body as well, So protect a footwear when it gets 83 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 3: around starts to the end stages of the flood and 84 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 3: if you're cleaning up and again wearing gloves when you're 85 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 3: cleaning up just to protect yourself from getting cuts and 86 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 3: sores long paths instead of shorts. 87 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: You know, good robust footwear. 88 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 3: If you start working with dark mud, then having a 89 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 3: mask would be really good to prevent any dust from inhaling. 90 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 3: Any dust that's being generated that could be contaminated with 91 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 3: bacteria as well. 92 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: So dust is another element famously not something I would 93 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 2: think of as being a big problem during floods. Is 94 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 2: this important for people to be aware of? 95 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, So there's potential for inhalation and respiratory infections that 96 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 3: come from directly inhaling either aerosolized water. So for some 97 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 3: reason there's splashes of water that get into the air, 98 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 3: and the bacteria within that water can then get into 99 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 3: your lung. Probably more likely would be as I say, 100 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 3: if dried mud, the bacteria are still viable within the 101 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 3: dried mud, and if you're broom scraping that up or 102 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 3: sweeping that up, potentially the bacteria within the dust that 103 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 3: you're then inhaling, could get into your lung. 104 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 2: After the break, we'll find out what can happen if 105 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 2: you ingest floodwater and what that seafoam you find on 106 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: beaches is really made of. 107 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 3: Welcome back. 108 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 2: I'm talking to Professor Mark Blaskovich, an expert in microbiology. 109 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: Some of the videos I've seen people diving into the 110 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 2: foam like matter on the beaches. Have you seen this? 111 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, what actually is in that foam? 112 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: Because I've heard it's not as fun as it may look, 113 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 2: and it does look quite fun. 114 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, So so my understanding is that, I mean, it 115 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 3: can be caused by a variety of things, but the 116 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 3: most likely cause is from dead algae, and so big 117 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 3: algal blooms that have happened off in the ocean get 118 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 3: washed ashore and then just the organic matter from the 119 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 3: dead algae makes kind of a gelatinous mess, which then 120 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 3: the thing of the ocean turns into the bubbles. So 121 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 3: it's not inherently toxic, but sometimes the micro augae that 122 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 3: lead to the blooms do have TX components within, So 123 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 3: again it's one of these things probably okay, generally safe, 124 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 3: but there are occasions where it could be toxic, and 125 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 3: particularly again if you inhale or ingest it, then it 126 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 3: you know, obviously gets into your body more easily and 127 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 3: could lead to some less and desirable outcomes, you know, 128 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 3: probably more along the lines of gasprotestinal distress and issues 129 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,799 Speaker 3: as opposed to really serious illnesses. But you know, again, 130 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 3: if you can avoid it, it's probably better to do that. 131 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: Yes, for a few bliss moments in the foam, it's 132 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: probably not worth it, especially because rumor has it this 133 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 2: foam is also part. 134 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: Sewage, well a hundred percent. 135 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 3: I mean, it shouldn't be the major cause of the foam, 136 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 3: but it will be present in there as well. Then 137 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 3: during floods and storms the levels rise a lot, potentially 138 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 3: to which would be considered unsafe levels for general swimming, 139 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 3: just because the chances are then of ingesting or getting 140 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 3: someone in your body, or much higher just because there 141 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 3: are more bacteria sitting around. 142 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 2: You talking about the bacteria sort of sticking around, do 143 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 2: we know how long for or is it just that 144 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 2: as long as there's flood debris, there's bacteria. 145 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 3: I would yes, tend towards that that assumption. You know, 146 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 3: bacteria can survive for quite a long time. If the 147 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 3: floodwater is gone, they can still survive in the soil 148 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 3: for weeks at a time. As I mentioned earlier, there's 149 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 3: some bacteria that actually grow and live in the soil, 150 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 3: and so they will be there at varying levels all 151 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 3: the time. But that the higher levels found within the 152 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 3: sewage water. You know, as long as there is water around, 153 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 3: there will be bacteria present within that water. Just that 154 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 3: depends on the level of contamination. 155 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 2: And finally, I know you've covered a lot, but do 156 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 2: you have any other tips on how people can protect 157 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 2: and mitigate harm to themselves. 158 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 3: It really just comes down to common sense methods of 159 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 3: you know, protecting your skin from coming in contact with 160 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 3: the water, and particular protecting yourself as they say cuts 161 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:35,599 Speaker 3: and scrapes that provide access because your skin is a 162 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 3: natural barrier for bacteria getting inside your body, and you 163 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 3: have bacteria all over your skin all the time anyway, 164 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 3: and it's just. 165 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: The increased concentrations, you. 166 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,679 Speaker 3: Know, and and floodwaters have things other than bacteria and 167 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 3: viruses that are potentially dangerous to your body because they're again, 168 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 3: particularly within the urban environment, there's lots of chemicals that 169 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 3: have from very from the roads and the environment that 170 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 3: the water has been through, and those aren't particularly good 171 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 3: for you either, So it's not the spectera. 172 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: You have to worry about other things as well. 173 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 2: Well. That was Professor Mark Blaskovic with a lot of 174 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 2: great information I won't be forgetting anytime soon. We'll be 175 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 2: back tomorrow with another episode of From the Newsroom. 176 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 3: Thanks for listening, follow us, subscribe to From the Newsroom 177 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 3: wherever you get your podcasts.