The Killer Disease
As summer approaches, hospitals swarm with patients suffering from critical seasonal diseases.
Heavy rains are a customary summer phenomenon across Pakistan, resulting in the hazardous accumulation of stagnant water everywhere. This is especially so in densely populated areas due to inadequate drainage. The muddy sludge quickly becomes a breeding ground for germs, infesting the surrounding areas with mosquitoes, flies and other germ-carrying agents which contaminate the air and water and spread disease through food. If timely and appropriate measures are not taken, the health-hazards become uncontrollable.
Typhoid is one of the ailments associated with such unhygienic living conditions. Typhoid fever is considered to be a global health problem, and is mainly caused by food contaminated by germ-carrying flies. Typhoid fever affects 21.5 million people each year in developing countries with 70 per cent of all cases recorded in Asia alone.
Typhoid bacteria are mainly transmitted by drinking water contaminated with fecal matter. Usually flies and insects cause this kind of contamination. Ingestion of vegetables fertilised with human wastes and eaten raw, shellfish harvest from sewage contaminated beds and contaminated milk products are also major causes. Health experts found most people in Pakistan to be unaware of the typhoid threat caused by ice-cream and soft-drinks. These two edibles are major carriers that make children highly vulnerable to typhoid.
The most important precautionary measure is to ensure complete hygiene in potable-water, vegetables, fruits and other edibles. The need of the day is to spread awareness about the causes and prevention of typhoid and other critical diseases. Informative mass-media campaigns and awareness events can effectively reduce the risks to public health.
Experts say that the most effective solution for this problem is immunisation. Preventive vaccines against typhoid are available in the market today but the government should take steps to improve the common man’s access to these vaccines by launching a free immunisation programme for the masses. The media should highlight the threats, causes, symptoms, gravity, preventive measures and vaccination against this deadly disease.
Because of the serious and debilitating nature of the disease, there is an urgent need for greater research into this on a global level. The international community should provide financial support to poor countries for controlling its spread. Broad-based plans for providing proper sanitation systems should be implemented. The filtering of drinking water and germicidal sprays on contaminated water swamps are also necessary.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 6th, 2010.
Heavy rains are a customary summer phenomenon across Pakistan, resulting in the hazardous accumulation of stagnant water everywhere. This is especially so in densely populated areas due to inadequate drainage. The muddy sludge quickly becomes a breeding ground for germs, infesting the surrounding areas with mosquitoes, flies and other germ-carrying agents which contaminate the air and water and spread disease through food. If timely and appropriate measures are not taken, the health-hazards become uncontrollable.
Typhoid is one of the ailments associated with such unhygienic living conditions. Typhoid fever is considered to be a global health problem, and is mainly caused by food contaminated by germ-carrying flies. Typhoid fever affects 21.5 million people each year in developing countries with 70 per cent of all cases recorded in Asia alone.
Typhoid bacteria are mainly transmitted by drinking water contaminated with fecal matter. Usually flies and insects cause this kind of contamination. Ingestion of vegetables fertilised with human wastes and eaten raw, shellfish harvest from sewage contaminated beds and contaminated milk products are also major causes. Health experts found most people in Pakistan to be unaware of the typhoid threat caused by ice-cream and soft-drinks. These two edibles are major carriers that make children highly vulnerable to typhoid.
The most important precautionary measure is to ensure complete hygiene in potable-water, vegetables, fruits and other edibles. The need of the day is to spread awareness about the causes and prevention of typhoid and other critical diseases. Informative mass-media campaigns and awareness events can effectively reduce the risks to public health.
Experts say that the most effective solution for this problem is immunisation. Preventive vaccines against typhoid are available in the market today but the government should take steps to improve the common man’s access to these vaccines by launching a free immunisation programme for the masses. The media should highlight the threats, causes, symptoms, gravity, preventive measures and vaccination against this deadly disease.
Because of the serious and debilitating nature of the disease, there is an urgent need for greater research into this on a global level. The international community should provide financial support to poor countries for controlling its spread. Broad-based plans for providing proper sanitation systems should be implemented. The filtering of drinking water and germicidal sprays on contaminated water swamps are also necessary.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 6th, 2010.