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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Beware of mosquitoes, insects while in Salalah

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TRIP TIPS: Eat hygienic food, be careful while playing in beaches -


Kaushalendra Singh -


Salalah, July 8 -


Stick to the health advice when you are visiting Salalah during the monsoon and keep yourself out of trouble.


A health expert has suggested some tips to visitors to make their visit more enjoyable. “Understand that you are visitors to the tourist sites and not residents. So certain amount of alertness makes a lots of difference.”


Insect bites at the tourist spots in Salalah is a common phenomenon. That does not mean people should not visit those sites.


“If they (visitors) keep certain things in mind, their Salalah experience will be enjoyable. Otherwise, they may develop red itching scars on the exposed parts of the body and end up visiting a healthcare centre or a hospital for treatment,” said Dr Harish Kumar, general practitioner in New Salalah.


“For protection against ticks and mosquitoes, use a repellent containing 20 per cent or more of DEET that lasts for several hours. Only products with one of the following ingredients can help prevent mosquito bites. Higher the percentage of the active ingredient, longer the protection.”


Dr Harish has asked visitors to avoid scratching on bug bites, and to apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce itching. “Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.”


According to him, victims are generally those adults who visit bushes and places where water accumulates while wearing clothes with half sleeves.


Besides hands, parts of their legs are also exposed. “Since women keep themselves and the children covered, they are less affected,” he said.


Dr Harish advised all visitors to the mountain and spring areas to try and “cover body parts as much as possible, wear a cap and apply a mosquito repellent before going to such places”.


For general health, he had the following advice. “During tours, people tend to neglect their health. Not only personal health, the health of children and the elderly should be of utmost concern. It is important to carry the health records of those suffering from diabetes and hypertension.”


Everyone should eat and drink safe as unclean food and water can cause diarrhoea and other diseases. “Reduce risk by sticking to safe food and water,” he said.


“Every drink should be bottled and sealed. If using ice, it should be made with bottled or disinfected water. Not always but during travel one can use carbonated drinks, hot coffee or tea and pasteurised milk,” Dr Harish said.


He advised against diving in shallow waters. “Do not swim in places where sanitation is poor. Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that can make you sick.”


“To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste. Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection that can be spread in fresh water, is found in Oman. Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water such as lakes, ponds or rivers,” he says.


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