As flood cleanup continues in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, doctors and public health experts are reminding people to stay out of the water, if possible.
Flood water can contain some nasty stuff, including sewage, chemicals, oil products and all sorts of bacteria.
"As far as infectious complications go, things such as tenanus or diarrhea diseases, which can be caused by any number of bacteria, or viruses or parasites," said Dr. Dana Hawkinson, infectious disease specialist at The University of Kansas Health System.
"There are parasites that are common in the environment which we typically don't encounter unless we're out drinking water out of the creek or the river," Hawkinson said. "Things like cryptosporidium or giardia."
People who have not had a tetanus booster in the past eight to ten years should get one, and people who come in contact with flood water should wash with plenty of soap, Hawkinson said.