The Ministry of Health to recommend implementing measures to prevent diseases and epidemics during rains and floods in Vietnam

The Ministry of Health to recommend implementing measures to prevent diseases and epidemics during rains and floods in Vietnam (Internet image) 

On November 20, 2023, the Ministry of Health issued Official Dispatch 7534/BYT-DP on implementing measures to prevent and control epidemics and environmental sanitation during and after floods in Vietnam.

The Ministry of Health to recommend implementing measures to prevent diseases and epidemics during rains and floods in Vietnam

The Ministry of Health recommends that agencies, units, and people proactively participate in implementing measures to prevent diseases and epidemics during floods, as follows:

(1) Principles

- Implement proactive preventive measures to ensure safety before the rainy season and when floods occur.

- Find out information and proactively implement recommendations on safety measures during floods and storms, measures to prevent accidents and epidemics, and ensure food safety during storm and flood seasons of health and government agencies.

(2) Recommendations on general epidemic prevention and control measures

- Ensure safe and hygienic food selection and food processing; eat cooked food and boiled water.

- Regularly wash your hands with soap before and after preparing food, before eating, and after using the toilet.

- Daily personal hygiene: wash feet and dry between toes after contact with flood water or contaminated water.

- Eliminate larvae/larvae, kill mosquitoes by covering water tanks and containers; placing fish in large water containers; remove waste such as bottles, jars, and car tires... or natural water holes to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs

- Wear a mosquito net when sleeping, even during the day

- Clean water tanks, wells, water containers and use chemicals to disinfect drinking and household water according to instructions from medical staff.

- Follow the principle of cleaning as soon as the water drains, collecting, treating and burying animal carcasses according to the instructions of medical staff.

- When there are signs of suspected infection, you should go for examination and treatment at the nearest medical facility.

(3) Prevention and control of common diseases

* Prevent and control diseases transmitted through the digestive tract

Common diseases: Diarrhea caused by E. coli bacteria, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis A. Diseases appear due to using unsanitary water sources and contaminated food

Prevention:

- Ensure drinking water treatment, environmental sanitation and personal hygiene. Implement the principle of "Eat cooked, drink cooked", ensuring food safety and hygiene.

- Ensure enough clean water for drinking and daily activities. Wash hands with soap before eating and after going to the toilet.

- Handle manure, waste, garbage and dead animal carcasses well.

- Take or vaccinate against diseases when indicated for diseases that have vaccines.

* Prevent and control respiratory diseases

Common diseases: Colds, flu, sore throat, respiratory infections

Prevention:

- Keep warm in cold weather, especially children and the elderly

- Limit contact with people showing signs of flu or respiratory infections.

- Ensure adequate nutrition

- Timely diagnosis and treatment to limit complications and death

* Prevent and control eye diseases

Common diseases: Pink eye, blepharitis, lacrimal gland inflammation.

Prevention:

- Do not wash your face or bathe with dirty water.

- Do not let children bathe or play in dirty water.

- Wash your hands with soap and clean water.

- Do not share towels and sinks with someone who has pink eye.

- Use regular eye drops for all people at risk of exposure to dirty water.

* Prevent and control diseases transmitted by mosquitoes

Common disease: Dengue fever

Prevention:

- Sleep under mosquito nets and wear long clothes to prevent mosquito bites, even during the day.

- Kill larvae and larvae, treat water containers to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

- Spray mosquito-killing chemicals in high-risk areas or areas with dengue fever outbreaks

- When you have a fever, go immediately to a medical facility for examination and treatment advice. Do not self-treat at home.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 7534/BYT-DP issued on November 20, 2023.

Ho Quoc Tuan

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