Rainy season in Bamako: water, waste, mosquitoes and health

What are we talking about?

In Bamako, the rainy season changes the daily environment: puddles, standing water, washed-down waste, humidity. These factors can favour mosquito proliferation and affect water or food quality.

WHO recalls the importance of drinking water, hygiene and vector control. That does not mean an epidemic is ongoing: any official alert belongs to the competent authorities.

What you may observe

Around the home, spot containers that hold water, blocked gutters, tyres and waste that can serve as larval breeding sites.

Pay attention to the source of drinking water and to food storage in hot, humid weather.

Good practices

Empty and cover water stores, eliminate avoidable puddles, manage waste to limit breeding sites, and protect yourself from bites (mosquito nets, adapted clothing when possible).

Wash your hands at key moments and use safe drinking water. In case of diarrhoea, prioritise oral rehydration.

• Remove unnecessary standing water
• Protect drinking water and food
• Limit mosquito bites
• Hand hygiene

What to avoid

Avoid leaving open containers filled with rainwater.

Avoid concluding to a precise disease (malaria, cholera, etc.) on the basis of the season alone, without assessment.

Avoid spreading epidemic rumours not confirmed by an official source.

When to ask the pharmacist?

The pharmacist can advise on ORS, bite-prevention measures, storing medicines in humid weather, and referral in case of concerning fever or diarrhoea.

When to seek medical care?

Seek assessment in case of fever, diarrhoea with signs of dehydration, or any impaired general condition — all the more so in a young child and a pregnant woman.

Do not wait for “seasonal” confirmation to act if the person worsens.