Cholera Outbreak: 5 Effective tips to Stay Safe

Cholera has maintained its well-deserved position as one of the leading fatal illnesses prevalent in African countries. This disease is characterized by intense diarrhea accompanied by dehydration and death if not controlled. The method by which the organism causing this disease invades the intestine of its host is nothing short of impressive.

To stay safe and prevent the life-threatening symptoms that are associated with this condition, the following tips are recommended;

Practice proper handwashing techniques:

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling and eating food and after using the toilet. It would be best if you also washed your hands after handling poultry or farm animals.

Improve sanitation practices:

Open defecation, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, dirty and congested environment and clogged and smelly gutters provide a conducive means for transmission of this disease. Therefore, enhanced sanitation practices should be improved and maintained.

Avoid patronizing street food vendors:

While it might be tempting to get cooked foods from street vendors, this is not advisable. Foods like raw sea foods, cut and packaged fruits, and vegetables are easy culprits. This is because they can serve as vessels that can lead to contracting the causative organism of cholera.  

Enforce basic hygiene:

This includes cleaning and disinfecting cooking surfaces before and after cooking.  You should also ensure the water you drink is clean and safe. Boil and filter water before drinking to be sure of its safety.

Strengthen your immunity:

The weaker your immunity is, the more severe the symptoms of cholera particularly if you have digestive issues or low stomach acidity. Use of zinc with oral rehydration solution (ORS) or alone suppresses the cholera toxin and prevents further damage to the intestine. Also, zinc plays a role in recovery from the disease and can reduce the morbidity and mortality, associated with diarrhea. NATURE’S FIELD ZINC is the right ally in the fight to contain the cholera outbreak and reduce the severity of symptoms such as diarrhea.

The massive chronic diarrhea, severe dehydration, and loss of electrolytes are the horrors that happen with cholera disease. The frightening part is that most infected people do not show symptoms until after ten days of infection. Fluid and electrolyte replacement via consumption of ORS and NATURE’S FIELD ZINC will go a long way in curbing this virulent disease that is ravaging African countries at an alarming speed.