Prompt remedial measures to prevent disease outbreaks after floods

(VNF) - The Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health (MoH) has recommended that people be on alert to prevent infectious diseases such as diarrhea, sore eye and flu, which often occur after floods.

Accordingly, the province’s healthcare education center should spread information of keeping environmental hygiene after heavy rain and flood; use powdered lime or chemicals when burying dead animals to avoid infectious epidemics; and coordinate with the health sector to spray chemicals to exterminate disease-transmitting insects in danger areas.

People and health medical must disinfect and clean environment after storm to prevent diseases. (Photo: SGGP)

On October 16^th, the MoH requested local provincial health departments in the central region and its units to implement remedial actions to deal with the floods, while ensuring sanitation and food safety in places which have gone through flooding and enhancing post-flood disease prevention.

Medical units were urged to closely coordinate with functional forces to support victims affected by the flood and provide necessities, medicines and sanitation chemicals for locals, while guiding residents in flood-stricken areas in maintaining sanitation, disinfecting water and preventing infectious diseases.

On the same day the ministry sent an official request to its medical businesses to provide Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces each 125 life jackets, 200 lifebuoys, two life float rafts, antivirals, and 100,000 Chloramine B disinfection capsules./.

( Compiled by VNF )