A market vendor in Phnom Penh sells warm winter coats ahead of expected temperature drops. Hean Rangsey
The Ministry of Health is warning the public to be ready for a cold front and protect their health as the temperature drops.
The ministry advised that the lower temperatures can cause respiratory disorders, or lead to streptococcal infections, resulting in symptoms such as a runny nose, oesophagus inflammation, coughing and those associated with the flu.
An instruction issued by the ministry dated on November 16 said the cold season has officially set in and people need to be extra careful about their health, especially people living in areas with extremely cold weather.
Seasonal diseases that occur often in cold weather from December to January each year are respiratory disorders, flu, runny nose, oesophagus inflammation, coughing and gastric-intestinal inflammation.
The ministry has instructed people to wear warm clothes, wrap their necks with handkerchiefs and scarves, and wear hats and gloves to keep their bodies warm. People should also seek medical treatment if they have difficulty breathing or have a fever, coughing, sore throat and muscle pain or other health problems.
“When you cough or sneeze, please cover your mouth with tissues, cloth or clean handkerchiefs. Without the cloth or handkerchiefs, please cough or sneeze while covering your mouth with a shirt or jacket sleeve.
You must not use empty hands to cover your mouths. Additionally, wash your hands frequently with soap and water and refrain from touching your eyes and nose if your hands are yet to be washed,” the ministry announced.
Takeo province resident Hor Sokhim told The Post on November 16 that she had already bought some warm shirts, hats and gloves to wear in the cold season. But the weather in the province is colder at night than daytime because sunny day keeps the weather from being too cold.
“I am worried only about my children because they are still small. When we dress them, they take clothes off because they don’t like to wear multi-layers of trousers and shirts and I don’t have old people in the house to watch them and dress them all day. I, therefore, call on neighbours with old people in their homes to help dress them with multi-layer clothes,” she said.
