#preventionisbetter

On this #WorldRabiesDay remember: rabies is a deadly but preventable disease.🦠

4 Things That Can Damage Your Bones 💔

Your bones are the foundation of your body—protect them! Here are 4 common things that can weaken and damage your bones:

🍟 Poor Diet Low calcium and vitamin D intake can lead to weak bones. Make sure to eat foods like dairy, leafy greens, and fortified products!

🚬 Smoking Smoking reduces bone density and interferes with your body's ability to absorb calcium. Say no to cigarettes for stronger bones!

🍷 Excessive Alcohol Drinking too much alcohol can interfere with calcium absorption and lead to bone loss over time. Moderation is key!

🛋️ Lack of Exercise Sedentary lifestyles can make bones brittle and weak. Regular weight-bearing exercises like walking, running, or weightlifting are essential for bone health!

Little did we know that the ones we’ve craved for is likewise the ones that will crave our bodies into death.

According to the laboratory results from test samples that were sent to Australia, the bird flu that has hit parts of the Philippines has been confirmed to be Avian influenza which has H5N6 strain which can be passed on from infected birds to humans.

"It's very rare that we see bird-to-human transmission for H5N6," DOH Secretary Paulyn Ubial said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have only been 16 cases of human infection since H5N6 first began in 2014 and of these cases, only six have died.

However, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) warned that the virus' case fatality rate seems to be on the rise.

"It is hard for humans to catch H5N6, but if they do get it, there is a higher likelihood some could die from the virus," Ubial told.

So here are the life-saver tips on bird flu from DOH:

1. Avoid exposure to infected fowls. Ubial said the public must refrain from being exposed to any bird suspected to be sick. "Kung pwede, ‘wag silang magpa-expose sa live birds and fowl. ‘Yun’ yung pinakasource ng avian influenza," said Ubial. (As much as possible, they should not be exposed to live birds and fowl. They are the main source of avian influenza.)

2. Always wash your hands. Ubial said proper handwashing is crucial to avoid any type of infection, including bird flu. "Any contact with fowl or, shall we say, fecal material, wash your hands before eating and after using toilet. Make handwashing a regular activity," she said.

3. Cook chicken properly. Tayag assured the public they may still consume chicken and other poultry products, but he said they must be cooked properly. "No pink parts, clear fluid," said Tayag.

4. Personnel involved in depopulation must wear the right gear. Tayag advised those involved in the culling and depopulation of the chickens to always wear their personal protective equipment. "Monitor for signs of illness such as fever, sore throat, or cough. If sick, cover nose and mouth with mask, then go visit a clinic or hospital," said Tayag.

5. Disinfect the personal protective equipment. Ubial gave the ingredients for the mixture people may use to disinfect their personal protective equipment. "Disinfection is easy. It's one milliliter of bleach, 99 millileter of water dilutation, and they can use that as disinfectant," she said. Farm workers must not bring their equipment outside the farm as well.

6. Report unusual poultry deaths. Tayag said doing so would allow the Department of Agriculture (DA) to begin containment procedures for the birds and prevent the possible spread of the disease.

Lastly, DOH spokesperson Eric Tayag assures the public they may still eat chicken, but they must cook it properly first.

All of us can be calmed by now because it has been said on a report that bird flu is now cleared in our country; however, we really need to prevent the flu because take note of the universal quote “Prevention is better than Cure”.

REFERENCES:

https://www.rappler.com/nation/179275-doh-tips-safe-bird-flu

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/08/24/Pampanga-bird-flu-strain-transmissible-to-humans.html

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/08/25/doh-bird-flu-preparations-ahn6.html