With the rainy season here, most people are enjoying the delicacies like boiled and roasted corn, groundnuts, pear, coconut and assorted fruits that come with the period. However, as we enjoy the season, we should also be wary of the diseases associated with it. Lots of diseases are acquired and transmitted during this period, one of which is typhoid fever. According to the World Health Organization, typhoid fever is a bacterial disease caused by a microorganism known as Salmonella typhi and it is transmitted through the ingestion of food or drink contaminated by the faeces or urine of infected people. Although the disease can be treated with use of certain antibiotics, it is safer to prevent. Here are some tips to prevent and avoid typhoid fever this season:
- Drink water from a reliable source. Though most packaged drinking water sold in Nigeria cannot be said to be pure, it is still possible to get tasteless and odourless water. Do not drink water that has a taste or smell, so as to avoid taking in harmful microorganisms that can cause diseases such as typhoid.
- Avoid eating out as much as possible. It might be tempting to branch into a local restaurant to eat, however, during this rainy season one must be very careful of where, and how frequent. A majority of local food sellers get water from questionable sources to cook or wash utensils. If you must eat outside, ensure it is at a reputable and approved facility.
- Keep clean. Germs that cause diseases like typhoid survive and thrive in moist environments. Make sure that you wash your hands as often as possible. Utensils and plates should be well washed before using them to cook and eat. Do your corn and pear roast well before you eat them? Are the pieces of coconut steeped in clean water? Avoid dirtiness at all cost, especially when it has to things that have to get into your mouth.
- Cook properly. When cooking meat, poultry and even fish, be sure to cook them properly for the required amount of time, and fruits and vegetables should also be properly washed before being consumption so as to destroy disease-causing germs.