Hurricane Harvey continues to pummel Texas, dumping rain on the Eastern portion of the state as waters there continue to rise. President Donald Trump, who visited the state Tuesday, said the road to recovery will be “long and difficult.”

But what about the hidden health dangers that floods can pose? Floodwater can lead to a host of potential health problems for weeks or even months to come. Here’s a primer:

FLOODWATER

Even after the brunt of Hurricane Harvey has cleared Texas, floodwater can still be a major concern. The leftover floodwater can carry diseases that may cause stomach problems and diarrhea for those who come into contact with the contaminated water.

Stomach issues can also be caused by consuming food or drink that has been prepared with the water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions families to not let their children play with toys that have been in the floodwater or try and splash or play in the water itself.

"Floods can contribute to communicable diseases," New York physician Dr. Kelly Powers tells Newsmax Health. "There is increase incidences of infection via direct contact with polluted waters.

“Such infections include upper respiratory infections, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal infections, skin rashes such as dermatitis, even wound infections which can secondarily lead to bone infection and amputation if left untreated."

According to the World Health Organizations (WHO), floods can increase the transmission of water-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis, and hepatitis A.

"There may also be an increase in vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile Fever, Yellow fever, and potentially Zika Virus via providing an ideal habitat for vectors (mosquitoes) to thrive and reproduce," Powers says.

The CDC recommends careful handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of any disease. If you have an open wound anywhere on your body, pay extra attention and close care to keep it covered.

CLEANUP HAZARDS

Anything that has come in contact with flood water, including stoves, refrigerators, counter tops, and children's play areas, needs to be cleaned with disinfectant that contains bleach.

The CDC recommends wearing rubber boots and gloves when undertaking clean up. The organization says furniture, like beds, sofas and chairs should be dried first and then disinfected. They also suggest carpets be steam cleaned.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that any food or drinks that have come in contact with floodwater can be hazardous and must be thrown away.

"Trauma is a common secondary effect of flooding as individuals can slip and fall, leading to fractures, dislocations, sprains, and wounds," Powers adds.

"Hypothermia is also a factor, especially [for] children if remaining in water for long periods of time. In cold temperature conditions, frostbite may also ensue. Malnutrition may be a secondary result of floods as individuals may not have access to food due to isolation."

The FDA recommends throwing away prescription medication that have come into contact with flood waters – even if they are in their original containers.

MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESSES

Once flooding has subsided, there's an increased risk of infection from mosquito-borne illnesses like Zika. Mosquitos that carry diseases love standing water and breed quickly in it.

The CDC recommends wearing bug spray with DEET if you're going to be standing in or near standing water.

MENTAL HEALTH RISKS

Losing one's home in a flood is unquestionably a traumatic experience. The anxiety and depression that may ensue after a flood can't be discounted. The stress may even trigger post-traumatic stress disorder in some individuals.

“We know from a longitudinal study of low-income Katrina survivors (the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina Project) how a flooding catastrophe, like what is happening in Houston now, can impact people both in the short term and even years later,” Dr. Patricia Salber, founder of The Doctor Weighs In Website tells Newsmax Health.

“A year after the hurricane, almost half of people in the study had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and serious mental illnesses like psychosis and depression increased significantly.

"However, symptoms improved over time in a subset of people with some individuals even reporting that they thought the disaster made them stronger. Organizations and people, including those in the mental health community, who will be involved in recovery efforts would do well to study the learnings from this remarkable study.”

If you or someone you love is struggling with anxiety and depression following a national disaster and need immediate help, the Department of Health and Human Services has a Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) you can call.

If you notice anxiety and depression creeping back months after the disaster has occurred, don't hesitate to reach out to a licensed mental health counselor.