Most infectious diseases are passed from person to person, or get transmitted via bites from insects or animals. Other ways of getting infected are by eating contaminated food and water or coming in contact with virus and germs present in the environment.
Our habits play a big role in determining whether we stay immune to infectious diseases or get infected easily. Here are some tips to prevent the spread of infectious diseases at home, school and workplace.
- Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol sanitizers frequently especially before eating, before and after preparing food and after going to the toilet.
- You should also wash hands thoroughly if you have been to a public place, have been gardening, petting an animal, taking out trash or handling garbage.
- Hands should be washed thoroughly after cleaning up body fluids such as vomit, nasal secretions, blood or saliva.
- Do not share personal items such as tooth brushes, towels, undergarments, shaving razors and combs with other people. Be especially careful, if you live in a dorm, hostel or any other shared residence.
- Stay at home and avoid crowded places when you have flu and cough.
- Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly to get rid of all germs, dust and traces of pesticides
- Keep toilets and kitchens clean. These places can harbor a lot of germs and prove to be breeding ground for many infectious diseases.
- Use antiseptics and disinfectants when necessary. Antiseptics are things that destroy disease carrying germs without harming body tissues such as Dettol while disinfectants are used on kitchen counters, floors, bathrooms etc to destroy disease carrying micro-organisms.
- Get vaccinated for flu, hepatitis B, chicken pox and make sure your children get vaccinated against childhood diseases such as polio, mumps, measles and rubella.
- If you are suffering from flu, cold or cough, always cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough. Dispose off used tissues properly and avoid close contact with other people.
