Preventing Diarrhea: Adhering to the Principle of ‘Eat Cooked, Hot, Clean’ – SKY 11 Warning

2023-11-17 01:54:41
Title: SKY 11 Warns Public of Diarrhea Risk, Urges Adherence to Food Safety Principles

The Disease Prevention and Control Office 11 in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province has issued a warning to the public to be cautious of the risk of diarrhea, particularly in school-age children. The office recommends adhering to the principles of “eat cooked, hot, clean” to prevent illness from food and water-borne diseases.

Dr. Kraisorn Tothapthiang, Director of the Disease Prevention and Control Office 11, emphasized the importance of food and water safety, especially in the current period when schools are open for the semester. With students gathering in groups to participate in activities, the risk of contamination with various germs from unclean food and water is heightened.

During the period from 1 January to 5 November 2023, Health Zone 11 recorded a total of 41,835 cases of acute diarrhea, with the most common age group affected being 0-4 years. The provinces with the highest illness rates per 100,000 people were Phuket, Ranong, Phang Nga, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Chumphon, and Surat Thani. Dr. Kraisorn noted that Phuket province has consistently had the highest sickness rate every year, with a continuing trend of increase.

Diarrhea is a disease transmitted through food and water, and can be found in every season. Symptoms include stomach pain, loose diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Initial treatment for diarrhea includes drinking oral rehydration solution (ORS) to prevent dehydration, but individuals with severe symptoms such as blood in stools, vomiting, dry mouth, little or no urine output, or difficulty breathing should seek immediate medical attention.

To prevent the spread of diarrhea, individuals are advised to adhere to the principle of “eat cooked, hot, clean”. This means consuming freshly cooked food, thoroughly heating cooked food that has been stored for more than 2 hours, and washing hands thoroughly with soap and water before cooking, eating, and after using the bathroom or touching dirt. Additionally, individuals should choose to consume drinking water with standard clean ice or with the FDA or GMP mark, or drink boiled water.

For more information and assistance, the public can contact the Department of Disease Control hotline at 1422.

The Disease and Health Risk Communication Group at the Office of Disease Prevention and Control 11 in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province contributed to this report.

Written by: Thanyathorn Yaowayod
Office of Disease Prevention and Control 11, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province