Although cases of food-borne diseases have reduced
this year, authorities should not be complacent since the possibility of
occurrence of these illnesses is high as people rush to prepare food, hence,
safety measures are neglected.
“To avoid food contamination by bacteria, it is
important to make sure that personal hygiene is being followed. Similarly, it
is also advised to maintain a clean storage area and kitchen utensils because
poor sanitation attracts bacteria,” said Roderick Boyd Cerro, chief of DOH
Eastern Visayas Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.
According to experts, contamination of food by
bacteria can occur if infected ingredients such as meat, fruits, and vegetables
are not washed or cooked properly. Similarly, unclean storage areas and kitchen
utensils can also be carriers of the bacteria to food.
The official recalled that between April to July
2016, diarrhea outbreak killed 81 people and afflicted 9,432 others in Leyte
and Samar provinces. Most cases were caused by food and water contamination.
Fiesta celebrations between May to June, according
to the DOH official, also aided the increase of cases due to person-to-person
transmission and improper handling of food.
“We remind the public not to be complacent in
securing food safety because food-borne diseases can be a problem if safety
measures are ignored,” Cerro said.
(Eunice T. Asuncion-OJT/PNA)
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