Public warned vs illnesses from El Niño

Aside from heat stroke, Filipinos should be on the lookout for illnesses stemming from poor preparation and storage of food and water as effects of the El Niño phenomenon persist this year. Infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said Filipinos should practice good hygiene in handling food and water and to keep their surroundings clean to prevent the spread of illnesses. Solante said common illnesses during El Niño are typhoid fever, bacterial infections like shigella, viral infections like hepatitis A, parasitic infections like amoebiasis, illnesses spread by mosquitoes like dengue, malaria, chikungunya, heat stroke and food poisoning. He issued the reminder after the Task Force El Niño warned that the effects of El Niño will persist until May and that the public should also undertake efforts to conserve water, energy and food. —JULIE M. AURELIO