The flooding that has been going on in Thailand for a month now is beginning to show more signs of risks.
The rising waters have already claimed more than 400 lives and around 1,000 households are under water. But economic and health risks have emerged and become a large issue.
According to the Wall Street Journal, at least two people have dies from a bacterial infection that is spread through rat urine. The disease, along with other diseases, is expected to continue to spread when the water begins to recede, leaving pools of standing water.
Garbage, human waste and dead animal carcasses are also causing risks to people in the wake of the flood.
Though a very small fraction of those dead have died because of a flood related disease, it brings up some concern considering there is no way to clean up the waste and, in some places, there is no running water.
The flooding is also having an adverse affect on the economy, especially in the car and hardware markets.
Reports are saying that Honda Philippines has temporarily shut down production because they cannot get supplies in from Thailand.
ABC News reported that the flooding may likely impact the global supply of hard disk drives.
Thailand’s economy is also supported by their agriculture and tourism, which, needless to say, is taking a hit. As much as 14 percent of the countries rice fields has been wiped out. Tourists are deciding instead to visit neighboring India.
It’s hard to know for sure when the floods will dry out, but even the most optimistic experts say it will be at least a few weeks. If a trip to Thailand is in the near future, you may want to pack your umbrella and a canoe.
