The Danish Patient Safety Authority has issued a warning to the public regarding the health risks associated with flooded sewers following extensive rainfall in Denmark. The advisory, released on Tuesday, urges citizens to avoid contact with water suspected of being contaminated by sewage.

The recent heavy rainfall, which is expected to continue, has caused sewers to flood, potentially leading to sewage water overflowing onto streets, roads, and into basements.

Bente Møller, head of unit and chief physician at the Danish Patient Safety Authority, emphasized the dangers of exposure. “Sewage water contains bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms from human feces and especially from rat and mouse feces. It can pose a great risk of disease if you come into contact with it,” Møller stated. The authority stresses the importance of minimizing all possible contact with potentially contaminated water.