Once the Kosi waters recede, communicable diseases in flood-affected areas of Bihar may rise, warn experts. “Some cases of diarrhoea have already come. We are expecting more health-related problems, once the water level goes down,” Dr S P Sinha, director-in-chief, health services, Bihar, told The Indian Express.

Officials in the Union Health Ministry say the coming two weeks are crucial. “It will take a week for the water to come down. After another week, diseases may start spreading,” an official said.

A senior health official said, “Unlike Assam, where people are accustomed to floods and thrive on fish if they don’t get proper food, the situation is different in Bihar. Once they are relocated, start living in clusters and the water is settled, diseases will start spreading then.”

Noting that the flood will especially affect children and the elderly, an advisory related to immunisation, specifying the target groups, has been sent by the Union Health Ministry to the state health authorities. A need for immunising the target group among the displaced with measles and Vitamin A supplementation has also been conveyed. “The need for vaccinating target age groups in the affected areas will also be explored,” said the official.

Asserting that Bihar already faces health-related problems, health officials point out that if dengue and malaria spread in the area, it will be lethal. "The vectors may find the environment conducive, and if it happens, it will be quite deadly," added another official.

The ministry has started procuring drugs based on the list sent by the state Government that includes antibiotics, anti-diarrhoea, IV fluids, bleaching power, chorine tablets, measles vaccine and oral polio vaccine.