Recommendations of the Ministry of Health for the population of the Republic of Belarus
Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are diseases transmitted by airborne droplets and caused by various pathogens: viruses (adenoviruses, influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, and others) and bacteria (streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, and others).
Mainly, the pathogens of acute respiratory infections are transmitted from person to person through coughing or sneezing of an infected person. Anyone in close contact (approximately 1 meter) with another person exhibiting symptoms of ARI (high fever, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, chills, muscle pain) is at risk of exposure to potentially infectious inhaled droplets. Viruses can enter the body (eyes, nose, or mouth) through hands upon contact with an infected surface. By observing personal hygiene, the spread of pathogens causing respiratory infections can be prevented.
General recommendations for the public:
• Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell, have a fever, and cough.
• Avoid crowded places or reduce your time in crowded places.
• Try not to touch your mouth and nose.
• Practice hand hygiene – wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after touching your mouth and nose.
• Increase the flow of fresh air into living spaces, open windows as often as possible.
• Wear protective masks when in contact with a sick person.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, physical activity, regular walks in the fresh air.
Recommendations for caring for a sick person at home
• Isolate the sick person from others, at least 1 meter away from those around them.
• Cover your mouth and nose when caring for a sick person using masks.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after each contact with the sick person. Assign separate towels to each family member.
• Apart from the caregivers, no other visitors should see the sick person.
• If possible, only one adult in the household should care for the sick person.
• Pregnant women are not recommended to care for a sick person.
• Continuously ventilate the room where the sick person is located.
• Keep the room clean using detergents.
Recommendations for people with ARVI symptoms
• If you feel unwell, stay at home and follow your doctor's recommendations, keeping a distance (1 meter) from healthy people if possible.
• Rest, drink plenty of fluids.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing with a handkerchief or disposable wipes. Dispose of this material immediately after use oriron it and iron it. Wash your hands immediately after contact with respiratory secretions!
• Wear a mask if you are in a common area of the house near other people.
• Inform your loved ones and friends about the illness.
Recommendations for mask use
• Wearing masks is mandatory for individuals who have close contact with a sick patient.
• Carefully put on the mask so that it covers your mouth and nose, and tie it so that the space between your face and the mask is as small as possible.
• When using a mask, try not to touch it.
• After touching a used mask, for example, when removing it, wash your hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Replace a used mask with a new one as soon as the used mask becomes damp (wet).
• Do not reuse disposable masks.
• Dispose of disposable masks after each use and discard them immediately after removal.
Recommendations for parents and guardians:
• Teach children to wash their hands frequently with soap for 20 seconds. Parents should also follow this procedure, which will serve as a good example for children.
• Teach children to cough and sneeze into a tissue or, in the absence of a tissue, into the crook of their elbow.
• Advise children not to approach the sick closer than one and a half to two meters.
• Sick children should stay at home (not attend preschools and schools).
• Refrain from frequent visits to crowded places.
• If a child has been in contact with a person with the flu, consult a doctor about the need for antiviral drugs to prevent the disease.
What to do if a child gets sick?
• If a child is sick, seek medical help from a doctor, call a doctor to your home.
• Give the child plenty of fluids (juice, water).
• Create a comfortable environment for the child, calm them down.
• Follow the doctor's recommendations
• Keep wipes and a waste bin for used wipes within the patient's reach.
Acute respiratory viral infections, including influenza, remain one of the pressing medical and socio-economic problems worldwide. In the Republic of Belarus, preventing the spread of influenza is a priority in ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population.
(Source: website "Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology")