It is that time of year again: the transition from winter to summer. It’s also the time of year when viral ailments peak, as they always do. We tend to be more vulnerable to viral infections and vector-borne diseases because some days are abnormally hot and humid and other days are pleasant and breezy. Meanwhile, viral fever infections include – a fever of up to 103°F (39°C), headache, chills, muscle aches, weakness or loss of energy, Joint pain, dehydration, loss of appetite, congestion, or a runny nose, sinus pressure, sweating and nausea.
Experts claim that the beginning of mosquito breeding season and the use of tainted food and water are two risk factors contributing to the increase in instances of dengue, typhoid, leptospirosis, and viral fever.
Tips to Prevent Seasonal Fever:
- Practice good hand hygiene: To reduce the risk of respiratory infections, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Avoid making close contact: Avoid direct contact with sick people to reduce your risk of contracting airborne viruses.
- Distancing from others: To limit the risk of airborne transmission, keep a safe distance from infected people, especially in crowded places.
- Use mask: Wearing masks, particularly when having respiratory symptoms, acts as a barrier to inhaling infected droplets.
Warnings about food and waterborne illnesses:
- Washing thoroughly: Before eating fruits and vegetables, wash them thoroughly to remove any potential virus contamination.
- Staying away from stale food: To avoid viral illnesses caused by ingestion, avoid eating stale or expired foods.
- Use of safe consumption techniques: To avoid illnesses like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, and viral gastroenteritis, consume well-cooked foods and drink only safe water.
- Wear protective clothing: If you live in an area where dengue and chikungunya are common, wear cotton clothing with long sleeves to reduce your exposure to mosquito bites.
- Get rid of breeding grounds: To minimise mosquito breeding grounds, regularly check for and remove any sources of stagnant water in and around homes.
- Products that repel mosquitoes: To avoid mosquitoes, use repellents, especially during the hours when they are most active.
To protect oneself and your loved ones against mosquito-borne illnesses and the common cold, follow these easy steps:
- Refrain from going straight from hot surroundings into an air-conditioned space.
- When you get back from the outside, avoid consuming cold drinks and water.
- Make sure you consume 2.5 to 3 litres of fluids per day.
- Stay away from sick persons for as long as possible.
- When returning from outside, avoid having a cold shower and instead allow your body to restore to room temperature.
