·
5
THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1977
ADVICE ON HEALTH MEASURES TO PREVENT
GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES
*******
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY ADVISED THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST THE POSSIBLE OUTBREAK OF CERTAIN GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES WHICH TEND TO BECOME PREVALENT IN THE WARM SEASON.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE WARM WEATHER THE PUBLIC SHOULD PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PERSONAL, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE, WHICH IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THESE DISEASES.
COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARM WEATHER ARE SUCH DISEASES AS TYPHOID FEVER, DYSENTERY, FOOD POISONING AND VIRAL HEPATITIS.
AS MOST GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES ARE TRANSMITTED THROUGH CONTAMINATED FOOD AND DRINK, OR NEGLECT IN PERSONAL HYGIENE, THE SPOKESMAN URGED THE PUBLIC TO BE +EXTRA CAUTIOUS+ IN EATING, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY EAT AT PUBLIC PLACES.
HE WARNED THAT IMPROPERLY COOKED FOOD COULD CAUSE INFECTION AND FURTHER ADVISED THAT PROPERLY COOKED FOOD, IF NOT EATEN IMMEDIATELY, SHOULD NOT BE LEFT UNCOVERED AND EXPOSED TO CONTAMINATION.
PROPER STORAGE OF PREPARED FOOD WOULD ALSO REDUCE THE RISK OF FOOD POISONING, PARTICULARLY IN THE HOT WEATHER.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO REMINDED THAT AT A TIME OF WATER RESTRICTION, ALL DRINKING WATER SHOULD BE BOILED, ESPECIALLY WATER STORED IN CONTAINERS SUCH AS TANKS, BUCKETS OR BINS.
AS FOR OTHER PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES, THE PUBLIC NEED ONLY TO OBSERVE SOME SIMPLE RULES OF PERSONAL HYGIENE, SUCH AS WASHING OF HANDS BEFORE MEALS AND AFTER VISITS TO TOILETS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANLINESS, SUCH AS PROPER DISPOSAL OF REFUSE AND EXCRETA, IS MOST ESSENTIAL IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF DISEASES, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO WARNED THE PUBLIC TO BE ON THE ALERT IN PREVENTING THE OCCURRENCE OF +RED EYE DISEASE, WHICH IS QUITE COMMON DURING THE SWIMMING SEASON.
AN OUTBREAK OF THE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DISEASE OCCURRED IN THE SUMMER OF 1975, WHEN MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE WERE TREATED IN THE GOVERNMENT'S EYE CLINICS IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR ALONE.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE COMMONEST MEANS OF SPREADING THE DISEASE IS THROUGH CONTACT IN PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS SWIMMING POOLS AND AMONG FAMILIES.
/+IT IS