Different epidemics and pandemics are not new to humans. Micro organisms are causative agents in almost all infectious and communicable diseases in humans as well as in animals. The existence of unseen microbial life was suspected in ancient times also, but the scientific study began from 1670 under the microscope by Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. Till 19th century it was unknown that some diseases are caused by micro-organisms -bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa etc. In 1860, Sir Louis Pasture proposed Germ Theory and proved that some micro organisms are responsible for certain diseases, and the war against microorganisms began.
Healthy lifestyle, proper hygienic measures including food, water and personal hygiene, vaccines and different medicines are the weapons in this war. Majority of these microbial diseases can be easily prevented by food, water, personal and environmental hygiene.
COVID -19 and healthy habits
Hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and social distancing is the trio for protection from corona virus in current situation. This pandemic has made us to revise the proper methods of hand washing, covering nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing and social distancing (more than 1 meter), covering mouth and nose with mask or handkerchief in crowded places .(i.e. respiratory hygiene which is required otherwise also while travelling in crowded buses and local trains) .
Proper hand Washing for 20 seconds can prevent not only corona infection, but also 50 % of gastrointestinal tract infections. Understanding the proper technique of hand washing so important that to create awareness we celebrate 15th October as Global hand washing day.
This pandemic will fade one day, but permanent acceptance of these hygiene methods can protect us from many other deadliest microorganisms too. Mycobacterium Tuberculosis is one of them, which also spreads by droplets. India has highest tubercular population in the world and is almost 25% of total count. In India approximately 2 – 2.5 lakh deaths/year are caused due to tuberculosis and 4 – 4.5 lakh people get infected by this every year. Isn’t it scary?
Tubercular bacterium is declared as Most death causing organism in India by WHO.
Interesting thing is tuberculosis is completely curable still it is deadliest. There are many reasons behind this, but few are improper respiratory and hand hygiene, poor immunity and malnutrition and negligence towards treatment and so on.
I know, we all use maximum hygienic majors before this pandemic too, but we were not very keen about it, like this before. Now we are taking all maximum possible personal hygiene care, health care to raise immunity, as well as care of social healthy habits too. But these changes should not be limited for this pandemic period but for lifetime to stay away from many other microorganisms.
With all health care, hygiene, and careful social behaviour we will be out of this COVID – 19 trap very soon and by adopting these modified lifestyle changes we can dream for Tuberculosis free India too.
— Dr. Anisha Potdar, B.H.M.S., M.Sc. ( Nutrition & Dietetics), CDE
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