In the conditions of a man-made disaster, it is worth to take care of your own safety and prevent the emergence of an epidemic of acute intestinal infections

On June 6, the destruction of Kakhovska HPS caused great environmental damage to the entire territory of Ukraine.

The key environmental consequence of the dam explosion was the decrease in water quality and the pollution of reservoirs in the entire southern territory of Ukraine, because tons of household waste, destruction waste and everything that has accumulated over the years on the coast of the reservoir will enter the Dnipro, and from there the Black Sea.

It is important to remember that in the conditions of a man-made disaster, you should take care of your own safety and prevent the emergence of an epidemic of acute intestinal infections. For this, it is necessary to use water only from safe sources! It is necessary to refrain from consuming untreated water from the Dnipro water area and other bodies of water in the territories most affected by the Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovskaya HPS (Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions).

This is due to the fact that due to the flooding of fields, sewage structures, cemeteries and households, the water has a high level of pollution. For example, a significant excess of microbiological indicators has already been recorded in surface water bodies. Therefore, such water cannot be used in any case, as it can lead to acute intestinal infections.

It is important to avoid:

• swimming in water bodies;
• intake of water for consumption and economic needs;
• watering animals;
• fishing.

Your health and life, as well as those of your loved ones, depend on it!

The main cause of food poisoning and acute intestinal infections is elementary non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, cooking technology, conditions and terms of storage of raw materials and ready-made dishes, consumption of low-quality food products that contain the causative agent of the disease, the involvement of random persons who are not observe elementary rules of personal hygiene, storage of food products in unsanitary conditions, without proper temperature regime.

To protect yourself from food poisoning and acute intestinal infections, use only those foods that you are sure of, follow 5 steps to safer food:

1. Maintain cleanliness:

• wash your hands before taking food or preparing food;
• wash your hands after visiting the toilet;
• wash and disinfect all surfaces and kitchen utensils you use to prepare food;
• protect the kitchen and food from insects, rodents and other animals.

2. Separate raw food from ready-made:

• separate raw meat and seafood from other food products;
• use separate kitchen utensils, in particular knives and cutting boards, to process raw products;
• store foods in closed containers to avoid contact between raw and prepared foods.

3. Prepare food carefully:

• thoroughly fry or boil foods, especially meat, eggs and seafood;
• bring food to a boil so that it is cooked at least at 70 °C;
• the juice of meat or poultry during cooking should be transparent, not pink;
• reheat ready-made food thoroughly.

4. Keep food at a safe temperature:

• do not leave ready-made food at room temperature for more than 2 hours;
• keep prepared dishes hot (60 °C) until serving;
• do not store food for too long, even in the refrigerator;
• do not defrost food at room temperature.

5. Use safe water and fresh products:

• use clean or purified water;
• choose fresh and unspoiled products;
• wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly, especially if you will eat them raw;
• do not use products that have expired.

If symptoms of the disease appear (increased body temperature, headache, intoxication, vomiting, loose stools, abdominal pain, skin rash, etc.), you should immediately consult a doctor. Self-medication can lead to significant complications