As the temperature rises and rainfall increases, mosquitoes run rampant and viruses can be easily transmitted. Guangdong CDC reminds residents to beware of these contagious diseases in July.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and herpangina
In July, the prevalence of HFMD in Guangdong will gradually decrease as summer vacations of schools and childcare institutions begin. Attention should also be paid to the prevention and control of this disease, known as herpangina.
Key areas of disease prevention and control: the Pearl River Delta region.
Key venues: family gatherings.
Key populations: 0-3-year-old children living at home; children in a two-child family.
Prevention Tips:
*Keep your hands sanitized.
*Open windows regularly for better ventilation.
*Avoid taking children to crowded places, especially in indoor facilities.
*Clean children's daily-used items regularly.
*Conduct regular health observation for children.
*Stay away from infected patients. HFMD is highly contagious. Close contact with patients should be avoided. It is not recommended to hug or share toys, utensils, toiletry products with patients.
Dengue fever
Recently, the temperature and the mosquito density in Guangdong have both increased, and there is a potential risk of imported dengue fever cases in July.
Key areas of disease prevention and control: the Pearl River Delta and the east and west of Guangdong.
Prevention Tips:
*Eliminate the breeding places of mosquitoes.
*Keep the lids of water containers closed and fill holes or ditches.
*Clean up pounding areas and clear small containers of trash.
*Wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothes and long trousers when going out. Install screen doors and windows and use mosquito nets at home.
*Avoid staying in places where mosquitoes infest frequently and apply mosquito repellent spray to exposed skin and clothes.
*Use pesticides, mosquito coils, electric mosquito swatters, etc to deter or exterminate mosquitoes.
Measles
Key areas of disease prevention and control: the measles-hit areas, migrants gathering places and the peri-urban zones in the Pearl River Delta region and areas with weak immunization services in the eastern and western Guangdong.
Key populations: school-age children who have not received vaccine against measles.
Prevention Tips:
*Vaccination: the easiest and most effective way to prevent measles is to get the first dose of vaccine containing the corresponding ingredients at the age of 8 months and the second dose at the age of 18 months.
*Emergent inoculation: susceptible individuals who are in close contact with the patient (those who have not suffered from the corresponding disease previously, have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated) can receive emergent inoculation to avoid the disease or relieve symptoms.
Monkeypox
On May 11, the World Health Organization declared that the monkeypox no longer constituted a “public health emergency of international concern”, but it doesn’t mean the end of relevant prevention and control efforts.
The possibility of imported cases from abroad is high and the stealthy male-to-male transmission has been ongoing for some time.
Due to high population mobility and stealthiness, as well as the increasingly frequent international travels and exchanges in Guangdong, there’s a higher possibility to see subsequent imported cases.
Prevention tips:
*Residents do not need to be overly nervous, maintain good hygiene, and avoid close contact with infected patients.
Foodborne diseases
From June to September, we should pay special attention to the outbreak of bacterial foodborne disease infection. At present, Guangdong has entered a period of high incidence of foodborne diseases, especially the infection caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Salmonella.
In June, Guangdong is in the rainy season, and the warm and humid weather can easily lead to the growth of toadstools. Outings in summer will increase. Residents need to be alert to food poisoning caused by eating wild mushrooms.
Prevention Tips:
*Separate raw and cooked food, eat well-cooked food and put leftovers in the refrigerator.
*Do not pick or eat wild mushrooms.
Author | Sherry Lin (intern), Hannah
Editor | Olivia, Nan, Jasmine, Jerry
Source | Guangdong CDC
