Health tips for Spring Festival holiday

2. Human-infected avian influenza

Facts:

Since the winter of 2019, the epidemic situation of avian influenza in China has been relatively stable, and although the number of reported cases is lower than that of the same period in the previous year

The main source of human avian influenza infection is exposure to infected live poultry or to contaminated live poultry markets. Patients usually show influenza-like symptoms such as fever, cough, headache, muscle aches, and general discomforts. In serious cases, it progresses rapidly and usually causes severe pneumonia, hyperthermia and dyspnea.

H7N9 cases, a new type of human-infected avian influenza, have been reported in China. The overall mortality rate is nearly 40 percent.

How to prevent avian influenza:
I. Try to avoid exposure to live poultry and their faeces and, if necessary, strengthen personal protection by wearing masks and gloves, and wash hands with soap and running water as soon as possible.
II. Don't buy live poultry. Try to buy cold or frozen poultry that has been slaughtered.
III. Don't buy live poultry for raising from live poultry markets or mobile stalls, and don’t mix them with original homebred poultry.
IV. If you have fever and respiratory symptoms, wear a mask and see a doctor as soon as possible. Tell your doctor whether you have been exposed to poultry or been to live poultry markets before the disease outbreak.

3. Norovirus-infected diarrhea

Facts:

Norovirus-infected diarrhea has a high incidence rate in winter in China. It usually occurs in childcare institutions or schools.
During holidays, tourist groups, cruise ships and holiday centers often see norovirus-infected diarrhea as well.
The most common symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, followed by nausea, abdominal pain, headache, fever, chills and muscle aches.
In most cases, the patient will recover in 2-3 days. A small number of cases can occur with severe symptoms or even death.
The high-risk groups of severe cases are the elderly and young children.

People are usually infected by:
I. Eating food or drinking water contaminated with norovirus
II. Putting a finger into their mouths after touching a virus-contaminated object or surface
III. Being exposed to patients infected by norovirus (often by taking care of the patients, or sharing food or utensils with them).

How to prevent norovirus infection:
I. Wash your hands, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers, and before each consumption, preparation and processing of food.
II. Fruits and vegetables should be carefully washed before eating; oysters and other shellfish should be deeply processed before eating.
III. Norovirus-infected patients cannot prepare and process food or accompany other patients within 3 days of recovery.
IV. The surface contaminated by vomit or faeces of the infected patients should be cleaned and disinfected with chlorine-containing bleach or another effective disinfectant; Immediately remove and clean contaminated clothing or sheets. Wear rubber or disposable gloves during cleaning, and wash hands carefully afterwards.