Healthy China | Don't be careless after rainstorm and flood 4 measures for epidemic prevention and health protection | Environment | Flood
Beijing, August 11, China Central Broadcasting Network News According to the China Weather Network, on August 11, four red and 17 orange rainstorm warnings came into effect nationwide, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Gansu, Hubei and other regions were facing rainstorm attacks. From July 29 to August 2, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and other places suffered from extremely heavy rainstorm disasters, with floods flooding and collapsing houses. Extreme heavy rainfall has caused great losses to people's lives and property.
After the disaster, the reconstruction work in many areas is also progressing in an orderly manner, and people will eventually return to their homes. The National Health Commission reminds that after a flood disaster occurs, there should be no carelessness in diet, drinking water, disinfection, and other aspects. During the cleaning and reconstruction process, it is important to do a good job of self-protection, scientific hygiene and epidemic prevention, and prevent the "post disaster epidemic". Official accounts such as the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention and the Beijing Century Temple Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University have all issued articles providing guidance.
1. Thorough indoor and outdoor cleaning and disinfection.
After the flood recedes, the affected areas must undergo thorough indoor and outdoor environmental cleaning, and different items should be disinfected according to different methods.
Floors, walls, and surfaces of objects: After cleaning, environmental surfaces such as floors, walls, and surfaces of furniture, tabletops, and other objects can be sprayed, wiped, and disinfected with chlorine containing disinfectant with an effective chlorine content of 500 milligrams/liter or 200 milligrams/liter chlorine dioxide. The disinfected surface should be moistened and left to stand for 30 minutes. Disinfect the non corrosion-resistant surface and wipe it with clean water.
Tableware and drinking utensils: Boiling and disinfection are preferred after cleaning. Items that need to be disinfected should be placed in containers. It is best to submerge the items on the water surface, and the boiling time should be at least 15 minutes. Alternatively, soak them in chlorine containing disinfectant solution for 30 minutes according to instructions, and then rinse them with clean water.
2. Be wary of foodborne diseases.
During disasters, people who consume unsterilized food can become infected with diseases such as bacterial dysentery, infectious diarrhea, typhoid fever, etc. They should be alert to foodborne diseases and pay attention to dietary hygiene.
To prevent foodborne diseases, one should avoid eating spoiled or moldy food; Do not eat drowned poultry, livestock, and food from unknown sources, such as wild mushrooms, wild vegetables, river shrimp, etc; Do not use sewage to clean fruits, vegetables, or dishes, thoroughly clean and disinfect food containers and tableware before use; Do not eat raw or cold food. Separate and process raw and cooked food. When processing food, cook thoroughly. Wash hands carefully before meals, after using the toilet, and before handling food. Do not use dirty hands or unclean tools to come into contact with food.
3. Drinking water is recommended to be boiled before consumption.
After the flood recedes, various pathogenic bacteria are easily mixed into the water source, making it susceptible to contamination by excrement. Therefore, special attention should be paid to drinking water hygiene, avoiding drinking raw water and drinking boiled water as much as possible. It is recommended to boil all drinking water before drinking; Do not drink water from unknown or contaminated sources, including bottled water soaked in floods; Do not rinse your mouth or wash vegetables with water from unknown or contaminated sources, and try to minimize contact with sewage.
In addition, water containers such as tanks, buckets, and basins should be regularly disinfected and rinsed with clean water before use. Consciously protect the source and environment of drinking water for daily life, and avoid littering household waste or dumping domestic sewage.
4. Prevent insect borne infectious diseases.
After floods, it is important to focus on preventing insect borne infectious diseases and natural source diseases. Strengthen rodent and mosquito control, regularly remove exposed human and animal feces, and clean various household and kitchen waste on a daily basis; Timely remove indoor and outdoor water accumulation, control breeding grounds for mosquitoes and flies, and spray insecticides within the temporary residential area and the surrounding environment within 5-10 meters; Use screens, nets, mosquito nets, long coats and pants, or use repellents for personal protection; Maintain good environmental hygiene in the breeding grounds to prevent livestock and other excrement from contaminating the surrounding environment with floods; Vaccination is necessary to protect susceptible populations and provide emergency vaccinations promptly after exposure. When symptoms such as fever, systemic soreness, and conjunctival congestion occur, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly.
In addition, experts from Beijing Shijitan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University remind that daily protection should also pay attention to hand hygiene and personal protection. Try to keep your skin clean and dry, and seek medical attention promptly when skin diseases or damage are severe. Swimming or playing in contaminated water is strictly prohibited, and contact with contaminated water should be avoided. If unavoidable, long boots or rubber shoes should be worn, and personal protection measures should be taken. After the disaster, when returning to the original place of residence, the first thing to do is to conduct a safety check, confirm the firmness of the house, and open windows for ventilation in a timely manner.
