Cholera still in Phuket
The Phuket Provincial Health Office that last week went out and told people that Phuket was no longer in the risk soon for Cholera today went out and warned people about it.
They gave the public a long list of things that should be followed. Phuket has been hardest hit by Cholera in Thailand and a he government has been trying to keep it down before the high season starts now from the 15 November.
The Phuket Provincial Health Office has gone out with following guidelines
Causes
Raw meats, especially raw seafood.
Unclean seafood
Boxed food or food left in plastic too long.
Food from unhygienic street vendors and markets.
Unhygienic food preparation
Not washing hands before preparing and eating food
Not washing hands after visiting the toilet
Symptoms
Diarrhea and vomiting causing exhaustion and dehydration, which also leads to darkness around the eyes, dry lips and low blood pressure.
Treatment
Dehydration is caused by the diarrhea and vomiting can lead to death, especially in very young and elderly people. The PPHO advises the following treatment for people who have contracted cholera and are suffering from diarrhea:
Consume soups and rice water with salt added and drink as much water as possible to prevent dehydration.
Babies should be breastfed more often than usual and mineral supplements dissolve in their milk.
Babies fed powdered milk should continue being fed the normal mix supplemented with electrolyte drinks, which should be consumed separately.
Adults and children over six months old should be fed easy-to-digest food, such as rice soup and boiled fish and meat. Minerals lost through dehydration can be replaced with electrolyte packs available at most pharmacies.
Homemade electrolytes can be made with two tablespoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in boiled water and left to cool. Make and drink each batch in same day
Antibiotics or antiseptics should be taken only under medical supervision as unnecessary consumption could result in the bacteria’s resistance to the medicine and prolonged illness.
Do not use laxatives as this will prevent the body from fighting the bacteria, which will actually stay in the intestines longer.
These measures are usually sufficient to combat the disease but if symptoms persist, then please see a doctor or contact the PPHO.
Contamination prevention measures
Eat only well-cooked food that has been hygienically prepared and avoid cross-contamination from shared cutlery when eating with others.
Drink FDA-certified drinking water and ice cubes or boiled tap water.
Ensure personal hygiene by washing the hands after using the toilet, before meal preparation and before eating.
Babies should be breastfed.
Babies’ milk bottles should be cleaned frequently.
All food should be washed, including fresh fruit and vegetables.
Ensure garbage bins are sealed to keep flies away.
Cover food when it is not being eaten.
Use gloves when handling food.
Food should be re-heated before consumption.
People with cholera should not cook.
Cuts on the skin must be properly bandaged when preparing food.
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