Gyeongbuk Province, "Beware of Infectious Diseases in Flood-Affected Areas"... 24-Hour Operation of Mobile Quarantine Team

On the 18th, Gyeongbuk Province urged compliance with preventive measures against flood-related infectious diseases as recent heavy rains caused river overflows and flooding, leading to deteriorated sanitary conditions and an increase in vectors such as mosquitoes.

Flood-related infectious diseases include waterborne and foodborne infections caused by consuming contaminated water or food (such as typhoid fever, bacterial dysentery, hepatitis A, and enteritis), mosquito-borne diseases resulting from environments conducive to mosquito breeding (such as malaria and Japanese encephalitis), and diseases caused by direct exposure to contaminated water such as contact dermatitis, tetanus, leptospirosis, and eye diseases.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office.

To prevent flood-related infectious diseases, it is essential to consume safe water and food, strictly follow hygiene rules such as handwashing, and minimize skin exposure by wearing waterproof gloves (rubber gloves) during flood recovery work in submerged areas. After work, thorough washing is mandatory.

Additionally, to prevent a surge in vectors like mosquitoes, residents should eliminate nearby stagnant water and carry out thorough pest control.

In flood-affected areas, waterborne and foodborne infectious diseases such as typhoid fever, bacterial dysentery, hepatitis A, and enteric infections (including salmonella infections) may spread due to contamination from overflowing sewage systems.

To prevent these infections, wash hands with soap for at least 30 seconds before and after cooking and before meals, and consume safe water (packaged bottled water or boiled water) and cooked food.

Individuals experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting, or those with hand wounds, should avoid participating in food preparation processes such as washing ingredients. Also, avoid consuming food that has come into contact with water or has not been refrigerated for about 4 hours or more.

Since proper food storage becomes difficult, increasing the risk of food poisoning, it is crucial to strictly adhere to cooking and personal hygiene rules.

Moreover, flood-affected areas create environments conducive to mosquito breeding in stagnant water, requiring caution against mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and Japanese encephalitis.

Therefore, remove stagnant water such as puddles and blocked drainage where mosquito larvae breed, avoid outdoor activities at night, and use mosquito nets at home to prevent mosquito bites.

In areas contaminated by floods, attention should also be paid to leptospirosis, epidemic eye diseases (epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis), and skin diseases.

Exposure of skin to contaminated water can cause leptospirosis or skin diseases; therefore, during flood recovery work in submerged areas, wear waterproof work clothes and boots to prevent skin exposure. Extra caution is needed if there are wounds or abrasions on the skin to avoid exposure.

During flood recovery work, ensure adequate hydration and rest, and wash exposed skin thoroughly with clean water after work.

Furthermore, residents in temporary shelters or evacuation facilities due to floods should follow respiratory infection prevention measures such as handwashing and regular ventilation to prevent outbreaks of respiratory infectious diseases in crowded environments.

Accordingly, Gyeongbuk Province is supplying quarantine supplies such as masks, disinfectants, and thermometers to 140 locations in 4 cities and counties with temporary shelters and is operating a quarantine task force 24 hours a day.

To minimize waterborne, foodborne, and mosquito-borne infectious diseases, thorough disinfection and quarantine are also being conducted in nearby rivers and vulnerable facilities in residential areas.

Hwang Young-ho, Director of the Welfare and Health Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, expressed condolences to residents affected by the heavy rains and urged them to consume safe food, follow personal hygiene rules, and promptly report to health centers if symptoms of infectious diseases such as diarrhea occur.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.