Buzz
1. Cook Meat and Eggs Thoroughly.
Make sure to cook meat and eggs thoroughly. Avoid using meat from sick or deceased animals. Use separate cutting boards and knives for raw meat and cooked food.
2. Avoid Contact with Wild Animals or Pets Without Protective Gear.
Chinese scientists have recently published research suggesting that certain snake species, including the spitting cobra and Chinese cobra, may be the source of the coronavirus responsible for the recent outbreak of fatal respiratory infections in China. Therefore, it is best to avoid contact with wild animals or pets without protective gear.
3. Use Separate Cutting Boards and Knives for Raw Meat and Cooked Food.
When raw foods are stored together, they may cause food poisoning due to cross-contamination of viruses and bacteria between these types of food.
Cross-contamination happens when bacteria from the surface of raw meat, poultry, or vegetables with visible dirt are transferred to uncooked foods, such as fresh lettuce, rice, pasta, cooked meat, or even fruits. Bacteria on raw foods are destroyed when the food is cooked, but they remain on raw foods that are not cooked further.
4. Wash Your Hands When Moving from Preparing Raw Foods to Cooked Foods.
Hands are one of the main culprits in transferring bacteria from uncooked foods to ready-to-eat foods. Direct contact with raw foods, dirty cutting boards, knives, and other cooking utensils can also lead to contamination.
5. Avoid Using Meat from Animals that Are Sick or Have Died from Disease.
During the slaughtering process, the person doing the slaughtering is easily exposed to pathogens surrounding the animal. This is a major pathway for the transmission of dangerous diseases. Particularly, when slaughtering poultry, the avian flu virus can spread from birds to humans. Simply dipping the animals in boiling water is not enough to kill the pathogens. Therefore, sick or dead poultry should not be used as food.
6. Keep Your Body Warm
Keep your body warm, maintain personal hygiene, wash your hands frequently with soap, and gargle with mouth disinfectants to protect yourself from pneumonia.
7. Avoid Crowded Places
During this period, it is advised to limit contact and avoid crowded places. Do not go outside if you show any signs of a cold. Individuals returning from Wuhan city, Hubei province, China, or other regions in China affected by the outbreak or those who have been in close contact with individuals infected with the acute respiratory illness caused by nCoV within 14 days should seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
If an outbreak is identified, report it to health authorities and local officials to ensure proper monitoring and response to prevent the spread of the disease.
8. Wash Your Hands with Soap and Clean Water or Use Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use a hand sanitizer with alcohol content.
9. Use a Tissue or Elbow to Cover Your Nose and Mouth When Coughing or Sneezing
Use a tissue or the inside of your elbow to cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the used tissue in a closed trash bin. After sneezing, wash your hands with soap or use an alcohol-based solution.
10. Avoid Close Contact with Individuals Showing Cold or Flu-like Symptoms
It is essential to avoid close contact with individuals who are exhibiting cold or flu-like symptoms. Do not come into contact with sick individuals without protective gear (including touching eyes, nose, or mouth).
