Health tips during floods

5. Eradicate flies, rats and mosquitoes to prevent intestinal and insect-borne diseases.
There are more chances of contact between people and mosquitoes, flies, and rats after a flood, which increases the risk of spreading infectious diseases. Flies can be eliminated with fly swatters, and food should be covered with fly covers. Rats can be killed by sticking, hunting and other methods. Any abnormal increase in rats should be reported to the local authorities immediately. Mosquitoes can be eliminated by using mosquito repellents and mosquito nets.

6. Wash hands frequently and do not share personal hygiene products.
Wash your hands frequently to maintain hand hygiene. Diarrhea, typhoid fever, Hepatitis A, cholera and other intestinal infectious diseases, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis and other contact infectious diseases can be transmitted through dirty hands. Avoid sharing towels as much as possible, and disinfect them frequently.

7. If symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea or skin rashes occur, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Fever, vomiting, diarrhea and skin rashes may be early signs of infectious diseases. During floods, once these symptoms occur, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

8. Try to avoid contact with infected water in schistosomiasis-endemic areas, and take personal protection when contact is necessary.
There is still a risk of schistosomiasis transmission in parts of Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Yunnan and some other provinces in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China, and you should be cautious when contacting wild waters.

It is recommended to wear protective equipment such as rubber boots, rubber gloves, and rubber trousers and to apply protective ointment when working in the water. If you have been in contact with infected water but have not taken protective measures, you should go to the schistosomiasis department for a checkup, and receive treatment as soon as possible if you are infected.

It is necessary to strengthen the management of human and animal excreta, which should be disposed of harmlessly and not discharged into water. It is forbidden to graze on any kind of water bottomland with snails.

9. Be optimistic.
Facing floods, people are prone to anxiety, depression, despair and other negative emotions, and serious mental illnesses may occur.Any disaster will eventually pass. Maintaining an optimistic attitude will support responses to disasters and home rebuilding.