How to prevent infectious diseases in everyday life
Hand washing and cough etiquette
- The practice of washing hands the right way and cough etiquette is the most basic means of preventing the spread of infectious diseases, preventing about 50-70% of infectious diseases :
- Following these steps to wash your hands the right way.
① Rub your hands palm to palm.
② Rub the back of your hands against your palms.
③ Rub your hands palm to palm with fingers interlaced.
④ Grasp your left fingers with your right fingers to rub against each other and vice versa.
⑤ Rotationally rub your thumb using your other hand.
⑥ Rub the tips of your fingers on the palm of your other hand to clean underneath your fingernails.
- The cough etiquette is as follows:
· When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or handkerchief.
· Cover with sleeves when tissue or handkerchief is not available
· Wash your hands with soap for more than 30 secondsafter coughing or sneezing.
How to prevent infectious diseases while traveling overseas
How to prevent infectious diseases before traveling overseas
- Precautions for travelers
· Check for any risk factors in your travel destination before traveling
· Check for any necessary vaccinations, antimalarial drugs, or first-aid medicines and equipment and consult a doctor if necessary, before traveling
√ If vaccinations are required, make sure to begin your preparation at least two months before traveling
1. People develop immunity within ten days of yellow fever vaccination and a one-time dose remains effective for 10 years. Therefore, it is safe to receive a vaccination at least ten days before traveling in an area where yellow fever is common.
2. Cholera can be prevented through strict observance of personal hygiene and consumption of safe food, and two primary doses of vaccine and additional doses are recommended to develop immunity.
3. Typhoid vaccine is composed of oral and injectable vaccines. Oral vaccine displays no known adverse effects and is about 70% effective. Oral and injectable vaccines remain effective for the first 5 years and 3 years, respectively.
4. Adults are not required to receive Japanese encephalitis vaccine but children are recommended to receive the vaccine. The first-time vaccination is injected beneath the skin twice with an interval of one week and an extra dose is injected once again a year later. The additional dose should be injected at the ages of 6 and 12. The vaccination needs to be completed at least 10 days before traveling.
5. Rabies vaccine should be administered to those who visit the countryside, who are expected to have many contacts with animals, and who will travel for a period of one month or longer. A total of 3 shots are given in the shoulder muscle.
6. Any travelers who are expected to have close contact with local populations in Africa and Southeast Asia should receive the hepatitis B vaccine in advance. As the vaccine is effective for 5 years, an additional shot should be administered 5 years later.
7. Influenza vaccine is administered to people over 65 years of age, patients with heart disease or lung disease, and children receiving aspirin treatment, who should be vaccinated once each year.
√ Antimalarial medication is a drug that requires a doctor's prescription, and should be taken at least one week in advance.
√ Make sure to pack up the medications you have been on (including contraceptives), painkillers, fever reducers, sunscreen, insecticide, antibiotics, disposable plasters, contraceptives, and so on.
How to prevent infectious diseases while traveling overseas
- Food and water
· Make sure to wash your hands before eating. If no soap or water is available with which to wash your hands, make sure to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
· Exercise caution to drink only bottled, boiled, or sparkling water and avoid drinking tap water, fountain water, and ice.
· Avoid street food.
· Eat only thoroughly cooked food.
· Do not consume dairy products except for completely pasteurized ones.
- Outdoor safety tips for travelers
· Avoid using an insect repellent containing 30-50% DEET.
· Wear a long-sleeve top, long trousers, and a hat when outdoors.
· Stay in a room with a mosquito net or an air conditioner during the hours in which mosquitoes are most active (from dusk to dawn).
How to prevent infectious diseases after traveling overseas
- You need to receive a medical checkup if:
· You suffer from a chronic disease (cardiac insufficiency, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, etc.)
· You’ve developed fever, diarrhea, nausea, jaundice, urinary abnormality, and/or dermal disease.
· You believe that you were exposed to a serious infectious disease during your travels
· You were bitten by an animal during your travels
· You have stayed in a developing country for 3 months or longer
- If you have taken antimalarial drugs
· If you took antimalarial drugs before traveling, make sure to check whether you need to continue taking the drug even after your return
· You may need to take the drugs even after your return
· Malaria is not a mild disease and it may cause death depending on the condition
· If you develop a fever or a symptom resembling a cold during or after traveling in a malaria-endemic area, visit a doctor immediately and declare your overseas travel history
