Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
a.
Wa t e r
. Drinking water supplies can become contaminated by sewage
containing poliomyelitis virus. Although no outbreaks have been con-
clusively traced to drinking water supplies, only water from an assuredly
safe source should be used to prevent any possible hazards that might
exist.
b.
Sewage
. Poliomyelitis virus can be found for considerable periods of
time in bowel discharges of infected persons and carriers and in sewage
containing such bowel discharges. Proper collection and disposal facil-
ities for human wastes are essential to eliminate the potential hazard of
transmission through this means.
c.
Food
. The infection of experimental animals by their eating of foods
deliberately contaminated with poliomyelitis virus has been demon-
strated in the laboratory, but no satisfactory evidence has ever been
presented to incriminate food or milk in human outbreaks. Proper han-
dling and preparation of food and pasteurization of milk supplies should
reduce the potential hazard from this source.
d.
Insects
. Of all the insects studied, only blowflies and houseflies have
shown the presence of the poliomyelitis virus. This indicates that these
flies might transmit poliomyelitis. It does not show how frequently this
might happen; it does not exclude other means of transmission; nor does
it indicate how important fly transmission might be in comparison with
other means of transmission.
2. Fly eradication is an extremely important activity in maintaining proper
sanitation in every community.
3. Attempts to eradicate flies by spraying effective insecticides have not shown
any special effect on the incidence of polio in areas where it has been
tried. Airplane spraying is not considered a practical and effective means
in reducing the number of flies in a city. The best way to control flies
and prevent them from spreading any disease is to eliminate fly-breeding
places. Eradicate flies by:
a. Proper spreading or spraying of manure to destroy fly-breeding places.
b. Proper storage, collection, and disposal of garbage and other organic
waste.
c. Construction of all privies with fly- and rodent-proof pits.
Proper sanitation should be supplemented by use of effective insecticide
around garbage cans, manure piles, privies, and so on. Use effective insec-
ticide spray around houses or porches or paint on screen to kill adult flies.
Swimming Pools
1. Unsatisfactorily constructed or operated swimming pools should be closed,
whether or not there is poliomyelitis in the community.
2. On the basis of available scientific information, the State Department of
Public Health has no reason to expect that closure of properly equipped
