Laos warns of heat, pollution-related diseases

Air pollution descends upon Laos each year during the dry season when slash and burn agriculture is conducted. (Photo: Laotian Times)

Vientiane (VNA) – In the context of severely hot weather together with air pollution caused by forest fires as well as the burning of fields by people, the Lao Ministry of Health (MoH) has issued a notice warning residents about diseases caused by heat and pollution.

The Department of Hygiene and Health under the MoH said that illnesses that can occur during extreme heat include diarrhea, which can be caused by unsafe food and water, including ice. Therefore, people should eat foods that are well-cooked and drink water that has been boiled.

The department also warns the elderly, young children, and people with certain illnesses related to high temperatures such as heatstroke, to be cautious.

People should protect themselves by using masks, it said.

Over the past time, the hot weather and the burning of fields by people not only caused serious air pollution on a large scale in Laos, but also led to a series of forest fires across the country. Lao authorities had to mobilise military and police forces and local residents to help contain the fire.

The Lao Department of Meteorology and Hydrology forecasts that hot weather will continue to ravage the entire country in the coming days.

According to the Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos, 323,500 hectares of forest across the country had been severely damaged by fire in the 2014-2022 period. Since the beginning of this year, forest fires have taken place in many provinces and cities such as Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Huaphanh, Xayabuli and Vientiane capital. Currently, the ministry is gathering information on the damage.

Farmers burning scrubland in preparation for crop cultivation was the main cause of forest fires in Laos./.