PENAMPANG: The Health Clinic here issued a guide to prevent outbreaks of leptospirosis and cholera which are common during floods.
It said food and water must be cooked and boiled well before consumption whereas leftovers must be stored properly in sealed containers or bottles.
The public are advised to throw rubbish in designated areas, to wash their hands before eating and after going to the toilet, and to ensure that their surroundings are clean.
Those who are sick or have symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and other health complications must seek immediate medical attention.
The department said that for Leptospirosis, the bacteria is normally transmitted from infected animals like rats, dogs, cats, cows, pigs, goats and horses.
They are usually transmitted upon direct contact with contaminated water either by consumption or swimming or food intake.
The symptoms of one who have been infected with this bacteria are high fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, jaundice, stomach ache, red eyes, rashes, and dark coloured urine.
Health complications following infection of this bacteria could include meningitis, bleeding lungs, kidney failure, liver failure and ultimately, death.
Simple preventive measures include covering wounds and cuts with water resistant bandages and to discard trash properly to prevent breeding of pests such as rats.
As for Cholera, symptoms of acute diarrhoea and dehydration would appear as quickly as a few hours after being infected, or within five days of infection.
The preventive measures are similar to what has been mentioned earlier.
Some 20 victims from five families in Penampang and 61 people from 11 households in Putatan have been evacuated to temporary shelters following the floods that started on Sunday (Oct 9), while thousands of houses, shoplots and other buildings were flooded over the weekend.
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