THE IMPACT OF THE EL NIÑO PHENOMENON ON HEALTH: HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND PREVENT DISEASES

The El Niño phenomenon is a climatic event that occurs every 2 to 7 years, and is characterized by an increase in sea surface temperature in the equatorial Pacific. This event can have a significant impact on the global climate, causing droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events.

The El Niño phenomenon can also have a significant impact on human health. Climatic conditions associated with the El Niño phenomenon can increase the risk of waterborne diseases, respiratory diseases, and vector-borne diseases.

Waterborne diseases

Floods associated with El Niño can contaminate drinking water, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and hepatitis A.

To protect yourself from waterborne diseases during the El Niño phenomenon, it is important to:

Drink bottled or boiled water
Wash your hands with soap and water frequently
Avoid contact with stagnant water

Respiratory diseases

The high temperatures and humidity associated with the El Niño phenomenon can favor the appearance of respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

To protect yourself from respiratory diseases during the El Niño phenomenon, it is important to:

Avoid contact with sick people
Stay hydrated
Wear light and cool clothing

Vector-borne diseases

The climatic conditions associated with the El Niño phenomenon can favor the reproduction of mosquitoes, which increases the risk of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.

To protect yourself from vector-borne diseases during the El Niño phenomenon, it is important to:

Use insect repellent
Dress with long sleeves and long pants
Avoid going outside during the hours of greatest mosquito activity

Prevention

In addition to taking measures to protect yourself from diseases during the El Niño phenomenon, it is also important to take measures to prevent them. These measures include:

Get vaccinated against diseases that can be prevented by vaccination
Maintain a healthy and balanced diet
Exercise regularly

Conclusion

The El Niño phenomenon can have a significant impact on human health. By taking steps to protect ourselves and prevent illness, we can reduce the risk of getting sick during this weather event.

What else can we do?

In addition to individual measures, it is also important that communities and governments take measures to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on health. These measures include:

Improve access to drinking water and sanitation
Strengthen health systems
Educate the population about the risks of the El Niño phenomenon

By working together, we can create communities more resilient to the El Niño phenomenon and protect everyone's health.