ISLANDERS are being advised to stay away from flood water, which could cause rashes, gastrointestinal illness and tetanus, among other diseases.
People are also being urged not to swim in the sea until public health officials confirm it is safe to do so.
The warnings have been issued after areas of Grands Vaux suffered severe flooding earlier this week, which resulted in dozens of people being evacuated.
A clean-up operation is now under way.
Professor Peter Bradley, director of public health, said: ‘There is a risk from flood waters across the Island that can contain many substances harmful to health. Obviously these waters can contain bacteria and viruses.
‘The flood waters may also contain other chemicals [it has picked up] as it has flowed through the affected areas, so it is very difficult to say what it might have been contaminated with.
‘That is not to alarm anyone, as any such chemicals would have been diluted, but there is still a potential risk and so it is safer to stay away from it.’
Warning signs have been placed at various locations across the Island, both in flooded areas and at coastal sites.
Meanwhile, sewage and other contaminants may still be making their way into the ocean following the flooding, with Islanders being warned to avoid sea swimming until public-health guidance changes.
Professor Bradley added: ‘The overspill being directed into the sea is very diluted. Once it reaches the sea it is diluted further and benefits from the tidal ranges. In addition to the overspill there will be contamination found naturally from animal faeces that will have been washed into the sea.
‘Islanders are asked to refrain from sea swimming until Saturday morning.’
