ISLAMABAD: National Institute of Health (NIH) in a seasonal awareness alert has warned against spread of water and food borne diseases causing acute watery diarrhoea, cholera and gastroenteritis, enteric fever and acute viral hepatitis.
In an advisory issued on Monday, NIH stated that Pakistan Meteorological Department had issued seasonal forecast for monsoon rainfall in different parts of the country during July-September 2016.
Keeping in view the previous disease trends during rainy and monsoon seasons and risk of floods, the advisory is being circulated for preparedness and strengthening timely preventive measures to minimize the occurrence of food and waterborne disease outbreaks.
Hot, humid weather and rainspell make the conditions favourable for the multiplication and transmission of micro-organisms responsible for water and food-borne diseases outbreaks.
Natural water reservoirs get contaminated due to mixing of rainy and sewage water.
The climatic conditions also become extremely conducive for growth and transmission of the microorganisms during summer and monsoon season.
The ignorance about good sanitary and hygienic practices further complicates the conditions that may lead to Acute Watery Diarrhoea Cholera and Gastroenteritis, enteric fever and acute viral hepatitis (A&E) outbreaks which not only leads to an increased level of morbidity and mortality and also creates resources burden.
Rainy areas and poor and congested localities are at greater risk of having epidemics of water and food borne infectious diseases.
Water pipes supplying clean treated water are usually old, rusted and damaged while sewage pipes and open sewage lanes running side by side, sometimes get contaminated.
The water borne diseases attributed to the consumption of the unsafe water and non-observance of proper sanitation and preventive measures may pose a serious challenge for the health and water and sanitation authorities.
Such epidemics and outbreaks could however be prevented through following practices and measures:
Careful watch on the water supply systems, repair of damaged water pipes, sewerage lines and systems without delay.
Regular monitoring of hotels, restaurants and food points, ice factories, street vendors and water reservoirs.
Focused health education campaign regarding safe drinking water, hand hygiene, food safety and better sanitation through active community participation particularly aiming vulnerable populations like school children, vendors and pregnant women who are at greater risk of obstetrical complications and mortality from hepatitis.
Other measures include building up of hospital capacity for management of patients, having rapid response arrangements in place and gearing up the preventive measures.
Regular liaison with the relevant departments like district government, health and water and sanitation agencies.
