ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Countries in Southeast Asia are starting to anticipate the impact of extreme hot weather on public health. Two countries that are very alert are Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health has issued a health advisory to anticipate hot weather with a maximum temperature of up to 40 degrees Celsius which is predicted to hit seven states and one federal territory.
Director General of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia DR Muhammad Radzi in a media statement accessed in Kuala Lumpur, Saturday, March 2 2024, said that his ministry had carried out monitoring from Epidemic Week (ME) 1 of 2024 to ME 9 and found that the cumulative number of illnesses caused by hot weather was as high as 13 cases, and four of them had heat stroke while the other nine had heat exhaustion.
Seven health cases due to hot weather occurred in Perak, five cases in Kedah, and one in Sabah. And all of these health cases were caused by physical activity outside the building in hot weather.
Currently, there is one case of hot weather attack which has to be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and one case of exhaustion due to hot weather which is being treated in the normal ward of Sultanah Maliha Hospital, Langkawi, Kedah. Meanwhile, 11 other people have received treatment and recovered.
Therefore, the Malaysian Ministry of Health reminds the public to take precautions during hot weather, especially during the month of Ramadan. Plan outdoor activities and avoid peak hot weather times between 11.00 am and 4.00 pm.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health urges the public to maintain water intake of at least eight glasses per day especially for those who fast to regulate body temperature and reduce drinking sweet, caffeinated and carbonated water because it is not good for body hydration.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health also advises people to frequently cool their body temperature with fans, air conditioners or frequent bathing.
Long-term exposure to hot weather and not drinking enough water can have a bad impact on health, especially for high-risk groups such as children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases.
He said the symptoms of illness due to extreme heat range from headaches, fatigue, lack of concentration, dizziness, weak muscles or cramps and nausea. Increasingly extreme conditions can cause dehydration, confusion and coma.
The Meteorological Department of Malaysia (METMalaysia) issued a hot weather status on Friday, February 29 2024, and a number of states and regions were reported to be at Alert Level 1 with maximum temperatures reaching 35 to 37 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days.
These states include Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Sarawak, Sabah, and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
MET Malaysia also issued a Heat Wave Warning Level 2 hot weather status for the Pokok Sena area in Kedah, with daily maximum temperatures that could exceed 37 to 40 degrees Celsius for a minimum of three consecutive days.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Health said that hot temperatures could cause fires which could then result in acute respiratory infections (ARI) among the public.
“When the temperature is hot, fires often occur, and that can cause ARI. “Of course we have prepared education for the public regarding ISPA and prepared health facilities,” said the Head of the Communications and Public Services Bureau of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi in her statement, quoted Saturday, March 2 2024.
Apart from ARI, hot temperatures can also cause dehydration, heatstroke, skin irritation characterized by fatigue, dry skin, and cloudy urine. Exposure to heat from the sun and pollution can also cause migraines or migraines.
Nadia added that increasing hot temperatures which often cause drought and water scarcity can also trigger the development of digestive tract diseases such as diarrhea.
“During the dry season and hot temperatures, it also has the potential to cause other diseases such as typhus and hepatitis,” said Nadia.
Based on the various potential diseases, explained Nadia, the Ministry of Health asked the public to start practicing clean and healthy living behavior in their daily lives. The simplest way is to wash your hands frequently and boil water until it is cooked and boiling. (AT Network)
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