Read the given passage and answer the following questions.
Maintenance of personal and public hygiene is very important for prevention and control of many infectious diseases. Measures for personal hygiene include keeping the body clean; consumption of clean drinking water, food, vegetables, fruits, etc. Public hygiene includes proper disposal of waste and excreta; periodic cleaning and disinfection of water reservoirs, pools, cesspools and tanks and observing standard practices of hygiene in public catering. These measures are particularly essential where the infectious agents are transmitted through food and water such as typhoid, amoebiasis and ascariasis. The advancements made in biological science have armed us to effectively deal with many infectious diseases. The use of vaccines and immunisation programmes have enabled us to completely eradicate a deadly disease.
What are the measures for personal hygiene that aid in preventing infectious diseases?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Keeping the body clean and consuming clean drinking water and food
The passage states that “Measures for personal hygiene include keeping the body clean; consumption of clean drinking water, food, vegetables, fruits, etc.”
Personal hygiene means the steps each person takes to stay clean and to keep germs out of the body. Many pathogens, such as those of typhoid, amoebiasis and ascariasis, enter through dirty food and water.
Option (1) Regular consumption of contaminated food and water — Incorrect. Contaminated food and water carry the pathogens of diseases such as typhoid, amoebiasis and ascariasis. Taking them in spreads infection, which is the opposite of hygiene.
Option (2) Keeping the body unclean — Incorrect. The passage names keeping the body clean as a hygiene measure. An unclean body lets germs build up and enter.
Option (3) Eating unwashed fruits and vegetables — Incorrect. Unwashed produce can carry germs and parasite eggs from soil and water. The passage asks for clean vegetables and fruits.
Option (4) Keeping the body clean and consuming clean drinking water and food — Correct. Both parts are the personal hygiene measures the passage names. Together they block the main entry routes of food- and water-borne pathogens.