Food poisoning during temple festivals: DMO urges people to be cautious

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The district medical officer has informed that the public and the festival organizers at temples should be more cautious as food poisoning incidents were reported during certain festivals in the district. The organizers must inform in advance to the nearest health centre in case of conducting food distribution as part of the temple festival.

Food should be prepared only in a clean environment and it should be kept closed. Diseases like diarrhoea, typhoid, jaundice, shigella and cholera are transmitted through contaminated water and unhygienic food, so the public and organizers should be cautious. Organizers should ensure that only clean water is used for cooking and boiled water for drinking and also personal hygiene is maintained by those involved in cooking. They also must ensure that the catering agencies that they assign have license.

The district medical officer also informed that if you experience vomiting and diarrhea after eating, instead of self-medication people should seek treatment as per the doctor's instructions.