Handwashing, hats and water are among the advice being offered to visitors to this year’s Olympics by health experts.
The UK’s Health Protection Agency says it is fully prepared to meet the health challenges of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games based in London, UK.
It has taken seven years of planning, but the HPA now says it is ‘Games ready’, with strategies in place to ensure that visitors and athletes are protected from infectious diseases and environmental hazards.
It says that world class systems have been put in place to monitor and rapidly respond to health threats. These systems include rapid laboratory testing which will process tests for gastrointestinal illnesses within 24 hours rather than several days, and enhanced surveillance of services likely to be used by international visitors such as emergency departments, walk-in-centres and out-of-hours GPs.
The HPA has also improved its Undiagnosed Serious Infectious Illness (USII) surveillance, which will allow clinicians to directly report cases of illness where a diagnosis cannot be established.
Dr Brian McCloskey of the HPA said: “In preparation for London 2012 we have put in place world class systems to monitor and respond rapidly to any outbreaks of infectious diseases or environmental hazards.
“This builds on existing tested, high quality capacity within the UK public health system. These new and enhanced systems will provide the first indication of emerging infections in the community and hospitals if they are to occur.
“Our experts will analyse surveillance data daily to identify issues of public health significance that could have implications for the Games.”
Dr McCloskey also advised visitors to the Games to take some practical steps, including washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, staying at home if you have a stomach bug or flu-like illness, wearing a hat and sunscreen if it’s hot and sunny, and drinking plenty of water.
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