“Flood waters themselves can carry bacteria or viruses, and when some of these rural areas have wells and septic systems, when the ground gets flooded, the drinking water can be contaminated with bacteria and viruses. So we certainly want to make sure that people aren’t drinking that water or that they boil it before they drink it.”

The most common flood-related illnesses are gastrointestinal infections, according to the Government of Manitoba. This is usually caused by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food, and results in symptoms like stomach aches, vomiting and diarrhea.