P.K.Aleyamma, Commissioner of Food Safety, has warned the people who go back from flood relief camps to be cautious about food-borne diseases.
In an advisory, Ms. Aleyamma directed flood-hit restaurants and cool bars to start functioning only after proper cleaning and sanitisation of their premises.
Food substances that have been dampened in the flood, including foodgrain or powdered grain and lentils, should not be sold under any circumstances. Water in the flooded wells should not be used unless the well was super-chlorinated.
The utensils used in restaurants and cool bars should be sanitised properly before use and bakeries should ensure that their unpackaged food substances were not stale.
Before cooking, everyone should ensure that the ingredients used were not contaminated or stale.
Drinking water suppliers, packaged drinking water units and ice manufacturers should ensure the safety of the water source. All water sources, including flooded household wells, should be tested for the quality of the water.
Flour mills should also clean the machines and premises before re-starting operations, the advisory said.
Kozhikode District Medical Officer V.Jayasree has issued an advisory about the probable emergence of leptospirosis (rat fever) after the rain water recedes in the district. People who have come into contact with the flood water as part of the rescue operations and others who had stepped into the water should be alert. People who take part in farming activities and cattle rearing are also at risk. They should take 200 milligrams (two tablets of 100 mg) of Doxycycline tablets once a week. People who take part in activities like cleaning of flooded premises should continue to take the tablets and also use gloves and boots, she said.
Those who have wounds in the body should ensure that the wound do not get in contact with dirty water. People who take part in cleaning activities. In case of fever, red eyes or muscle pain, report at the nearest hospital, she said in a press release.
The DMO also cautioned against other water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and jaundice, and diseases caused by mosquitoes such as dengue fever and malaria. Those who go back to their flood-hit homes should first clean the premises. Personal and food hygiene would also help, she said.
Free consultation
The National Hospital in Kozhikode has offered free OP consultation for people who have been affected by the flood. IP treatment will also be free for those with Government Health Insurance Cards.
For medical camps in the flood hit areas contact 7025730666, a press release said.
