Strategy for prevention of epidemic diseases in heavy rains

Srinagar: The Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, on Monday issued an advisory as a strategy for prevention of epidemic proven diseases in heavy rains. The advisory is as follows:

#1. Focus on Water and Sanitation: Aggressive health education to be given regarding prevention of water borne diseases (Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Typhoid fever, Cholera, Hepatitis A and E.

#2. Safe Drinking Water: Advise communities to boil the water for 5 minutes (rolling boil – preferably for 20 minutes). Boiled water does not taste good due to loss of oxygen because of boiling and in order to gain the taste vigorously stir the water in the container or shake the container.

#3. Health education regarding washing of hands with soap and water before eating food and after defecation and contact time between soap and water should be 20 seconds.

#4. Chlorination of the water to be done: 1 tablet , 0.5 mgs – tablet to be dissolved in 20 L of water and use after 30 mts (contact time – and if the temperature of water is less then increase the contact time.

#5. Use of ORS in case of Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases, no role of antibiotic. Community to be given awareness regarding the preparation of ORS if ORS sachets not available advise preparation of Home made ORS (To 1 lit of pre boiled water add 8 tsf of Sugar and 1 tsf of table salt).

#6. Water washed diseases are caused by poor hygiene (inadequate water supply.They are caused when freshwater is scarce and contaminated water comes in to contact with the skin and eyes. Water washed diseases include – Scabies, Eczema, Trachoma, Lice and Tick Borne Diseases. Avoid prolonged contact with flood water and clean the parts of the body with soap and water after contact.

#7. Solid waste management: Burying or burning is recommended. Carcasses waiting burial should be sprinkled with kerosene.

#8. Disinfection of rooms which were in contact with flood water with Phenol.

#10. Disease Control Room Numbers: 0194-2440283, 0194-2430581, +91-9419010363

Issued in Public Interest by Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (Division of Epidemiology and Public Health)