Health

Health
www.ccopab.eb.mil.br
Lt Col Francisco Augusto
ZOONOSIS
To inform UN peacekeeping personnel
about health threats in the peacekeeping
environment, and the precautions to take.

UN DPKO-DFS CPTM Version 2017
Module 3 – Lesson Outline 3.8 - Health

Learning Outcomes
• List general health threats

• List key factors which determine the level of
risk to health
• Describe precautions to take to protect
health before travel to and in the mission
• Describe environmental health threats and
precautions to protect your health
Lesson Overview
1.Health Threats
2.Determining Risks
3.Researching Information
4.Taking Precautions
5.Environmental Health Threats & Precautions

1. Health Threats
• Exposure to insects, rodents, other animals
• Infectious agents
• Contaminated food and water
• Poor hygiene
• Stress
• Fatigue
• Communicable diseases
• Exposure to mammals
• Avoid direct contact with domestic animals such as dogs in
areas where rabies are known to occur, and with all wild
and captive animals.
• Avoid behaviour that may startle, frighten or threaten an
animal.
• Treat any animal bite immediately by washing with soap
and clean water for 15 minutes and then rinse. Seek
medical advice.
• Use soap and a closed bottle of store-bought water as your
primary disinfectant.
• Exposure to insects, reptiles and parasites
• Make good boots or closed shoes a priority. Footwear protects your
feet from the elements, terrain, insects and small animals.
• Avoid walking barefoot or in open sandals. Wear long trousers with
boots or closed shoes.
• Avoid placing hands or feet where snakes, spiders or scorpions may be
hiding.
• Be careful outdoors at night, especially when using latrines. Always use
a torch or flashlight.
• If possible, keep vegetation cleared around the house or office.
• Examine clothing and shoes before use. Iron your clothes to help
prevent transmission of larvae to the skin.
Vectors: protection
• A vector is an organism that carries a disease from one
source to another.
• Vectors play an essential role in transmission of many

infectious diseases. Many vectors are bloodsucking insects.
Each time these insects bite you, you can become infected
with a disease from another source. An example is a
mosquito.
Vectors: protection – Insect Repellents
• Substances people put on exposed skin or clothing to

prevent human and vector contact.
• When applied to your skin, the repellent effect may last
from 15 minutes to 10 hours.
• Repeated application may be necessary. Use on clothes
gives a longer repellent effect.
• Read the instructions of the repellent you are using. Some
repellents may be inappropriate, for example for pregnant
women.
Vectors: protection – Mosquitos net
• The best solution for most personnel. Use nets with or
without insecticide. Impregnated nets are much more
effective. Use the mosquito net correctly. Tuck the net
under the mattress. Make sure it has no holes and there
are no mosquitoes inside.
Vectors: protection
• Insecticide sprays: Effective for an immediate knockdown

and killing effect. Spray indoor sleeping areas at least 1-2
hours before bedtime, even if you use a mosquito net. Be
careful with insecticide chemicals, especially in closed
rooms.
• Air-conditioning: Where available, a means of keeping
insects inactive because of the cold. However, air-
conditioning does not prevent insects from entering
rooms.
Vectors: protection
• Long sleeve shirts: Protective clothing can be effective
outdoors when vectors are active. The thickness of the
material is critical unless you have sprayed your clothes
with a special treatment such as pyrethroid repellents.
• Keep your skin covered: Do not expose any skin without

effective repellent. Use hats, long pants and long sleeve
shirts and skirts.
Malaria
• A common and life-threatening disease in many

tropical and subtropical areas
• Symptoms: Flu-like, including fever, chills, headache,

muscular aching and weakness, vomiting, cough,
diarrhoea and abdominal pain
Malaria
• Malaria Prophylaxis: Take regularly for the duration of
your stay in the malaria area
• Even if you are taking malaria prophylaxis, seek medical
assistance immediately if you develop a fever
• Personal protection against mosquito bites is your first
line of defence against malaria – no bite, no malaria
• Physical protection: Use such nets and repellents
Contaminated food and water – Food
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them on
something clean before food preparation and before eating.
• Avoid uncooked food and undercooked meat, including eggs (must be fully
coagulated before eating). Meat must be thoroughly cooked (“well done”
and not medium or rare).
• Only eat fruit and vegetables you can peel or shell.
• Clean vegetables in sterilising solution. If eating from a local food stall,

generally only eat food cooked for you. Avoid precooked standing food.
Contaminated food and water – Food
• In countries where poisonous bio toxins may be present in fish and shellfish,
get local advice.
• Store food in clean cupboards or refrigerators protected from insects and

rodents. Ensure the electricity supply is constant. If a refrigerator is not
working properly, do not store food in it.
• Do not leave half-empty cans or tins of food in the refrigerator. Take food out
of cans and place in a plastic or ceramic container, preferably with a lid.
Dented and damaged tins may hold contaminated food. Do not eat!
• To control the rodent population, eat only at designated eating areas.

Contaminated food and water - Water
• Boil drinking water if its safety is doubtful.
– Boil water for a minimum of 10 minutes, longer at higher altitudes.
– Let the water stand for a few hours before boiling. This allows any suspended particles to
sink to the bottom. Then only pour the top 2/3 of the container.
– Store the boiled water in closed bottles and keep them in a cool place.
• Ideally, use water filters as well as boiling water to sterilize it.
• If boiling water is not possible, use a certified filter and disinfectant agent and
maintain the filter (water purification tablets).
• Do not drink unpasteurised or raw milk.
• Avoid ice.
• Avoid brushing your teeth with unsafe water.
• Beware of locally produced alcoholic drinks.
• Sealed store-bought bottled or packaged cold drinks are usually safe. Avoid
anything not well sealed. Hot drinks and soups are usually safe.
• BOIL IT PEEL IT FORGET IT
• Poor hygiene
• Keep facilities and communal areas clean and tidy at all times.
• Ensure proper disposal of leftover food.
• Ensure sanitary disposal of liquid and solid wastes.
• Keep all rooms clean, ventilated and protected against rodents
and insects.
• Eliminate breeding areas for disease-carrying animals or insects;
for example,
• drain pools of stagnant water and puddles after rain.
• Poor hygiene
• Maintain good personal hygiene and always wash regularly with clean water.
• Eat healthy, varied foods.
• Exercise regularly.
• Dress protectively.
• Inspect your skin for bite marks.
• Air and dry your boots regularly to prevent bacteria from breeding in them.
• Iron all clothes regularly, if possible, to kill bugs, insects and bacteria.
• Be prudent in using alcohol and refrain from using recreational drugs.
• Don’t have sex without a condom.
Stress
• The UN works in high-risk areas in emergencies and crises. As
peacekeeping personnel, you may find yourself involved in
intense, emotionally charged situations. Living and working
conditions may be difficult.
• Peacekeeping personnel also need to:

– Make decisions with limited information and resources
– Remain effective for long hours in uncertain and often dangerous conditions
– Function as part of a multicultural, multidimensional mission
Fatigue
• Fatigue is a serious concern. It must be

addressed in a timely and effective way to
avoid burnout.
• Communicable diseases
Communicable diseases
• Contact transmission diseases
• Food-borne and water-borne diseases
• Vector-borne diseases
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Blood-borne diseases
• Air-borne diseases
• Diseases transmitted from soil
2. Determining Risks
• Destination
• Duration of assignment
• Purpose of assignment
• Standards of accommodation and food hygiene
• Your personal and professional behaviour
• Your past medical history
3. Researching Information
• From your organization (particularly your

medical service) and colleagues
• About your intended destination
• Before you travel
• To help prevent health problems while abroad
4. Taking Precautions
• Seek health advice and request medical
clearance 4-6 weeks before travel
• Comply with recommended vaccinations,
prescribed medication and health measures
• Carry a medical kit and understand its use
• Be aware of modes of transmission for
infectious disease
• Keep track of your psychosocial wellbeing and
be in good physical shape
5. Environmental Health Threats & Precautions
• Hot and cold climates

• Food and drink
• Bites and stings
• Malaria

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Health

about health threats in the peacekeeping

environment, and the precautions to take.

Module 3 – Lesson Outline 3.8 - Health

• List general health threats

5.Environmental Health Threats & Precautions

• Vectors play an essential role in transmission of many

• Substances people put on exposed skin or clothing to

• Insecticide sprays: Effective for an immediate knockdown

• Keep your skin covered: Do not expose any skin without

• A common and life-threatening disease in many

• Symptoms: Flu-like, including fever, chills, headache,

and not medium or rare).

• Only eat fruit and vegetables you can peel or shell.

• Clean vegetables in sterilising solution. If eating from a local food stall,

• Store food in clean cupboards or refrigerators protected from insects and

• To control the rodent population, eat only at designated eating areas.

• Peacekeeping personnel also need to:

• Fatigue is a serious concern. It must be

• From your organization (particularly your

• Hot and cold climates

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