Question 1: What are the various public health measures, which you would suggest as safeguard against infectious diseases?
Class 12 - Biology - Human Health and Disease Page 164
Answers
1. Washing hands regularly.
2. Washing hands before meal.
3. Take bath regularly.
4. Use mosquito net at night.
5. Use clean bed sheets.
6. Dont use others hanky.
7. Dont use others water bottle.
Public health measures which should be taken to afeguard against infectious diseases are:
(i) Maintenance of personal and public hygiene:It is one of the most important methods for prevention of various infectious diseases. This measure consists of maintaining a hygienic body, taking of healthy and nutritious food, drinking clean water, etc. In public hygiene their is proper disposal of garbage, excreta, periodic cleaning of society, and cleaning of water reservoirs.
(ii) Isolation: To prevent the spread of air-borne infectious diseases like pneumonia, chicken pox, tuberculosis, etc., it is essential measure to keep the infected person in isolation with others to reduce the chances of spreading these infectious diseases.
(iii) Vaccination: Vaccination is the protection of the body from communicable diseases by injecting some agent that makes copy of the microbe inside the body. It helps in providing passive immunity to the body. Several vaccines are available against many diseases such as tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, etc.
(iv) Vector Eradication: Various diseases such as malaria, filariasis, dengue, and chikungunya spread through vectors. Thus, these diseases can be prevented by providing a clean environment and by the prevention of breeding of mosquitoes. This can be achieved by not allowing water to stagnate around public areas. Also, measures like periodic cleaning of coolers, use of mosquito nets and spreading of insecticides in drains, ponds, etc. can be undertaken to ensure a healthy environment. Introducing fish such as Gambusia in ponds also controls the breeding of mosquito larvae in still water against diseases.