The National Health Surveillance Agency of Paraíba (Agevisa) recently issued an alert to the public about the dangers of carelessly washing containers of canned drinks before use them.
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According to the general director of Agevisa, Glaciane Mendes, as the mouth is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body, drinking directly from cans or bottles without proper sterilization can lead to serious health problems, with an emphasis on leptospirosis.
Glaciane highlighted that this is an acute and potentially serious febrile infectious disease. It is caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans, which is eliminated in the urine of rats and other animals, contaminating sewage, soil and food, in addition to drinks in cans and other containers and food products sold in the form canned.
Forms of contamination
According to the director general of the Agency, there are many ways of contamination, such as through the skin and mucous membranes that come into contact with polluted water. Another possibility is exposure to beverage cans on the street, which are often stored in places without pest and rodent control, which are the main disseminators of the disease.
In addition, it is important to emphasize that it is very important to clean the cans with running water and soap and, if possible, use alcohol afterwards to avoid contamination. And in addition to cans and bottles, attention should also be paid to boxes and food packaging in general.
The director also says that caution must exist even indoors, as the place must always be clean and dry. With this, the environment will be free of pests, preventing such animals from urinating and ending up contaminating the individuals of the residence.
How to identify leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis can end up causing initial symptoms like high fever out of the blue, indisposition, headaches, tiredness and body tremors. In addition, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are also common.
Glaciane Mendes also explains that “it is common for the eyes to become very red, and some patients may have cough and pharyngitis. After two or three days of apparent improvement, symptoms may reappear, albeit with less intensity. At this stage, the appearance of red spots on the body is common.
Furthermore, she added that it is not just the Leptospira bacteria that harm people's health, as there are many other bacteria in the dirt that accumulates in warehouses in commercial establishments and residential.
