Please read first: this is general health information, not a diagnosis. If your eye is very painful, your vision is blurred, you have trouble breathing, or chemicals splashed into your eye, get medical care immediately and mention the flood and any cleaning products used. Disinfection spraying cares for surfaces in the home and does not treat illness. The disinfectant is itself a chemical, so people always leave the area while it is applied.

An Example Case: A Home by the Lam Mat River in 2026 (2569)

Note: this is a typical scenario based on situations common after rural floods. It is not the account of any real person in the area.

Kaew farms rice in a village by the Lam Mat in Hin Khon. In early October 2026 the river spilled into the village. The road in front of her house went under water, and neighbours used tractor-towed trailers to ferry motorcycles across. Her nearly ripe rice sat under water for days, and the fertiliser sacks and pesticide containers in the shed beside the house were flooded too.

When the water dropped, Kaew and her husband started cleaning. The storeroom smelled strongly musty, the plywood walls showed black spots and green fuzz, and the mattress and pillows stank. Hoping to make her cleaner "stronger", she poured bleach into a bucket and added toilet cleaner. Within minutes her eyes burned and streamed, her nose stung, she coughed and her chest felt tight. Her teenage son, who was hauling out the mattress, could not stop sneezing and both his eyes turned red and itchy.

Kaew went outside for fresh air and rinsed her face with clean water. Her chest eased, but her eyes stung for hours. The next day she saw a doctor and explained the flood, the mixed cleaners and the mold. The doctor explained that mixing bleach with certain products releases irritating gases, that her son's symptoms might relate to mold spores, and that masks and goggles should be worn while cleaning. Many families affected by floods in 2026 have the same questions: what causes the irritation, and how can they clean safely?

The Hin Khon, Lam Plai Mat Flood, Buriram, 2026 (2569): What the News Reported

According to Siam Rath on 3 October 2026 (B.E. 2569), water from seven upstream districts of Buriram (Ban Kruat, Non Din Daeng, Pakham, Prakhon Chai, Lahan Sai, Chaloem Phra Kiat and Nang Rong) joined the Lam Mat and overflowed into six villages of Hin Khon Sub-district, Lam Plai Mat District, affecting more than 1,000 households. The Ban Hin Khon to Ban Krathing road was flooded 30 to 50 cm deep for more than 1 km, people had to use tractor-towed trailers to carry motorcycles across, and about 3,200 rai of rice fields were damaged.

The family details above are illustrative, but the facts show that farmland floods bring more than mud and sewage. They carry field soil, rotting plant matter, animal waste and possibly fertiliser or farm chemicals washed out of storage. Homes that stay damp for days then become ideal for mold.

Nationally, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported as of 06:00 on 7 October 2026 that 27 provinces plus Bangkok were affected, covering 123 districts, 984 sub-districts and 1,154,875 households, or more than 3.1 million people (published by the Government Public Relations Department).

Allergy, Irritation or Infection? Three Patterns

• Allergic: itchy, watery, red eyes on both sides, bouts of sneezing, clear runny or blocked nose, worse in damp moldy rooms. Triggers are mold spores and fragments, dust mites and dried-mud dust.
• Chemical irritation: sudden burning of the eyes and nose right after a smell, coughing, chest tightness, sometimes headache or nausea, usually easing in fresh air.
• Infection: red eye with heavy yellow or green discharge, swollen lids, eye pain, or a blocked nose with fever, forehead or cheek pain and thick coloured mucus. Viruses, bacteria or some fungi may be responsible.

These patterns overlap and are hard to tell apart yourself. See a doctor if there is no improvement within one or two days, or if any red flag below appears.

What Causes Eye and Nose Irritation After a Flood? 12 Germs to Know

Molds in a Damp House

1. Aspergillus (A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger). Common in soil, plant debris and wet materials, it releases tiny airborne spores that cause sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes and asthma flare-ups in sensitive people. In people with weak immunity or chronic lung disease it can infect the lungs or sinuses, which needs medical care. Wet, moldy rice or paddy may carry it and should not be eaten.

2. Penicillium species. Blue-green mold on flooded walls, wallpaper, carpets and spoiled food, and a major source of the musty smell after floods. Its spores trigger itchy eyes, sneezing and congestion in allergic people.

3. Cladosporium species. One of the most common molds indoors and out, dark green to black, growing on window frames, curtains and damp wood. A well-known cause of allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis.

4. Alternaria alternata. Abundant in rice fields and straw. When paddies flood and straw rots, its spores rise sharply. It is linked to asthma attacks, itchy eyes and sneezing in the rainy season.

5. Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold). Grows on cellulose materials that stay wet for days, such as gypsum board, plywood, paper and cardboard. It can produce mycotoxins, and heavy growth may irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Remove affected materials while wearing an N95 mask, gloves and goggles.

6. Mucorales (Rhizopus, Mucor). Fast-growing molds on rotting food and plants. Usually harmless to healthy people, they can cause severe nasal and sinus infection in people with poorly controlled diabetes or weak immunity. Facial pain or swelling, black crusts in the nose or one swollen eye need urgent care.

7. Fusarium species. Soil and plant molds and a leading cause of fungal keratitis (corneal infection), especially after the eye is scratched by leaves, rice blades, soil or mud during field cleanup. Pain, redness, light sensitivity and blurred vision need an eye doctor quickly.

Viruses and Bacteria

8. Adenovirus. The most common cause of viral conjunctivitis ("pink eye"), spread by hands touching tears or discharge, shared towels, pillows and surfaces. Red, gritty, watery eyes, sometimes with fever and sore throat. It spreads fast in crowded shelters and homes during floods.

9. Enterovirus 70 and Coxsackievirus A24. Causes of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis: very red eyes with spots of bleeding under the surface and strong irritation, often in outbreaks during the rainy season and after floods when clean water for handwashing is short.

10. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Bacteria behind conjunctivitis with thick yellow discharge and lids stuck together in the morning, and behind sinusitis that follows a long cold or allergic congestion, with coloured mucus, facial pain and fever.

11. Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A water-loving bacterium in stagnant water, drains and mud. A major cause of corneal ulcers in contact lens wearers exposed to dirty water or who rinse lenses in unsafe water. Rapid pain, redness, light sensitivity and blurred vision are an eye emergency.

Parasites and Microbial By-Products

12. Acanthamoeba species. An amoeba living in water, soil and dust that can cause severe keratitis in contact lens wearers exposed to floodwater or well water. The pain is often worse than the eye looks. It forms hardy cysts, and we do not claim that home spraying removes it. Never wear contact lenses while wading or cleaning, and never rinse lenses or cases with tap or well water.

Microbial by-products. Gram-negative bacteria in sewage release endotoxin, which can be aerosolised by high-pressure washing and irritate the eyes and airways. The earthy, musty smell often comes from compounds such as geosmin released by molds and actinomycete bacteria (Streptomyces). The smell itself is not a germ, but it signals that the house is still damp and microbes are growing.

Where Do Chemical Smells Come From After a Flood?

• Mixing cleaners: chlorine bleach plus ammonia-based products releases chloramine gas, and bleach plus acidic toilet cleaner releases chlorine gas. Both burn the eyes and nose and cause coughing and chest tightness. Never mix cleaning products.
• Strong products in closed rooms: even one product used too strong without ventilation irritates.
• Farm chemicals washed out: where thousands of rai of rice were damaged, flooded fertiliser sacks and pesticide containers may leak. Move them out with gloves and do not open and sniff them.
• Fuel and engine oil from vehicles, pumps or floating drums.
• Rotting gases: decaying plants and stagnant sewage give off hydrogen sulphide (rotten-egg smell) and ammonia.
• Generator exhaust: carbon monoxide has no smell and is very dangerous. Never run generators or charcoal stoves indoors. With headache, dizziness or nausea, go outside at once and call 1669.

To be clear: the disinfectant used for spraying is also a chemical. That is why professional spraying requires people and pets to leave the zone and return only at the time the technicians advise. People with asthma or severe allergies should tell the technicians beforehand.

Eye and Nose Symptoms: When to See a Doctor Right Away

Seek care immediately or go to an emergency department, and mention the flood, wading or cleaning chemicals, if:

• Chemicals splashed into the eye: rinse with gently running clean water for at least 15 to 20 minutes, remove contact lenses, and go to hospital with the product label.
• Severe eye pain, blurred or reduced vision, or strong light sensitivity
• The eye was hit by leaves, rice blades, soil or debris and is getting more painful or red
• A contact lens wearer has a red, painful eye
• Difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or an asthma attack that does not settle
• Headache, dizziness, nausea or confusion after being in a room with chemical fumes or near a generator
• Red, hot, swollen eyelids with fever, or a bulging eye
• Facial pain or swelling, black crusts in the nose, or nosebleeds that will not stop, especially with diabetes or weak immunity
• High fever with muscle pain or red eyes after wading, which may relate to leptospirosis
• No improvement within two to three days, or getting worse

What not to do: do not rub your eyes, do not use eye washes or drops without advice from a doctor or pharmacist, do not share towels, and do not go back into a room with strong fumes until it is well ventilated. Thailand's Department of Disease Control hotline is 1422; emergency services are 1669.

Who Is Most at Risk After the Buriram Flood of 2026 (2569)?

• People with asthma, allergies or chronic lung disease
• Young children and older adults
• People with diabetes, cancer or weak immunity
• Contact lens wearers
• Farmers clearing flooded paddies and handling farm chemicals
• Anyone cleaning for long hours without a mask or goggles

How to Prevent Eye and Nose Irritation After a Flood: 10 Steps

1. Wear an N95 mask, goggles, rubber gloves and boots whenever you clean or remove moldy items.
2. Open all doors and windows before starting, and use fans to blow air outside.
3. Never mix products. Use one product at the strength on the label.
4. Dampen moldy items before removing them to keep spores down. Never dry-sweep.
5. Avoid high-pressure washing in closed rooms.
6. Remove soaked, moldy materials such as mattresses, carpets and wet gypsum board.
7. Dry the home within 24 to 48 hours, as CDC advises.
8. Wear glasses instead of contact lenses during floods and cleanup.
9. Do not share towels or pillowcases when someone has pink eye.
10. Keep people with asthma and allergies away during heavy cleanup, and store flooded farm-chemical containers outside until local authorities advise on disposal.

WHD Disinfection Spraying After the Buriram Flood of 2026 (2569) With CHEMGENE HLD4H

The WHO and CDC both advise people to clean first, then disinfect, and to dry the home quickly. Home cleaning often fails because mold returns in a damp house, cleaners are mixed or used too strong, and hidden corners are missed.

World Health Disinfection (WHD) provides a disinfection spraying service by trained technicians who, according to the service information, spray and/or ULV-fog (Ultra Low Volume fine mist) with CHEMGENE HLD4H, a medical-grade UK disinfectant containing Benzalkonium Chloride and Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride. According to the service and product information it is broad-spectrum against viruses, bacteria and fungi, listed organisms include COVID-19, RSV, H1N1, H5N1, hand-foot-mouth virus, norovirus, Salmonella and fungi, and the stated efficacy is 99.99%. Listed approvals include the Department of Medical Sciences, Mahidol University, NHS England and EN 14476:2013+A2:2019.

Being honest: the molds, viruses and bacteria discussed above are not named on WHD's pages, but they belong to the fungi, virus and bacteria groups the product says it covers. Ask WHD for test data on any specific organism. We make no claim about Acanthamoeba cysts, and spraying cannot fix mold buried in soaked materials or a house that is still wet. Removal and drying always come first.

For lingering musty air after cleaning, residential ozone disinfection may be a complementary option. It is done in a closed, empty room with no people, pets or plants inside, and you re-enter only after the rest and ventilation period.

WHD is based in Bang Khae, Bangkok 10160. Customers in Buriram and other provinces can call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268 for assessment and scheduling. There is no local branch and no same-day guarantee. Clients include hospitals, schools, malls, airports, offices, airlines, banks and residential buildings. The promotion includes a free CHEMGENE spray bottle and WELLGIENIC wet tissues, and tax invoices are available.

The Process

1. Survey by phone or LINE with photos of mold, flood height and any household members with asthma or allergies.
2. Remove, wash and dry first: mud out, moldy materials removed, surfaces washed and aired.
3. Zoning: bedrooms, storerooms, bathrooms and kitchen, with food, dishes and children's items moved out.
4. Everyone leaves the zone, including pets.
5. Spraying of floors, flooded wall sections, furniture and high-touch points.
6. Re-entry: according to the service information, wait about 30 minutes, then use the space normally. Follow the technicians' advice on ventilation and timing.
7. Aftercare: keep the house dry, check for regrowth and rinse food-contact items.

We do not claim spraying leaves no residue. Sensitive people should ventilate further after returning.

10 Reasons to Book Spraying When Your Family Keeps Sneezing

1. Treats surfaces where mold grew, after removal and washing.
2. No home mixing, so no risk of creating irritating gases.
3. Nobody breathes the product during application.
4. Medical-grade disinfectant with listed approvals through the WHD spraying service.
5. ULV mist reaches behind cupboards, under beds and into corners.
6. Broad-spectrum against viruses, bacteria and fungi according to product information.
7. Helps reduce pink-eye spread via shared surfaces.
8. Protects asthmatics, allergy sufferers, children and elders from heavy cleanup work.
9. Frees time to recover rice fields and livelihoods.
10. Free advice first: 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268 via the service page.

Before and After

Safe Cleanup Checklist, Lam Plai Mat 2026 (2569)

• ☐ N95 mask, goggles, gloves and boots ready
• ☐ Windows open before work starts
• ☐ One cleaner only, used as labelled
• ☐ Flooded farm-chemical containers moved outside
• ☐ No generator indoors
• ☐ Contact lenses out during cleanup
• ☐ House drying within 24 to 48 hours
• ☐ Spraying booked, everyone out during application
• ☐ Anyone with eye pain, blurred vision or breathing trouble has seen a doctor

FAQ: Eye and Nose Irritation After a Flood

Why do my eyes sting and itch after the flood?

Mold spores, pink-eye viruses, bacteria, or fumes from cleaners and chemicals carried by floodwater. See a doctor for severe pain or blurred vision.

Why do I keep sneezing after cleaning the house?

Usually allergy to dust and mold spores, or irritation from cleaner fumes. Get fresh air, wear an N95 mask and see a doctor if it does not improve.

Is musty smell after a flood dangerous?

It signals ongoing damp and mold growth, which can trigger allergies and asthma. Find the source, remove it, wash and dry.

Can I mix bleach with toilet cleaner?

No. It can release chlorine or chloramine gas that burns the eyes and lungs.

What should I do if cleaner gets in my eye?

Rinse with running clean water for at least 15 to 20 minutes, remove lenses, and go to hospital with the label.

Is pink eye after a flood contagious?

Viral pink eye spreads easily by hands, towels and pillows. Wash hands often and do not share items.

Can I wear contact lenses in floodwater?

No. Waterborne germs such as Pseudomonas and Acanthamoeba can cause serious eye infections. Wear glasses.

Will disinfection spraying sting my eyes?

The disinfectant is a chemical, so everyone leaves during spraying and returns at the advised time, about 30 minutes according to the service information.

Will mold stay away after spraying?

No one can guarantee that. If the house stays damp, mold returns. Spraying follows removal and drying, and humidity must stay under control.

Is there a disinfection service near me in Buriram?

WHD is in Bang Khae, Bangkok. Call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268 for assessment and scheduling.

Water Gone Down in Hin Khon, Lam Plai Mat? Let WHD Finish the Job

Still smelling must and still sneezing after cleaning? Talk to WHD today.

Ask About Post-Flood Disinfection

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE @whd268

Related Services

• WHD disinfection spraying service
• CHEMGENE HLD4H disinfectant
• Residential ozone disinfection

References

• Siam Rath, Hin Khon, Lam Plai Mat flood, Buriram, 3 Oct 2026: https://siamrath.co.th/regional/326195
• Government Public Relations Department, flood summary (DDPM data, 7 Oct 2026): https://www.prd.go.th/th/content/category/detail/id/33/iid/548715
• World Health Organization fact sheets: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets
• CDC, Floods: https://www.cdc.gov/floods/
• Department of Disease Control, Thailand: https://ddc.moph.go.th/