The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) participated for the third time today (the 16th) in the Baisha Tun Mazu pilgrimage on foot, joining popular characters from “Disease Personified” such as “Bai Jing” and “Jian Yi” to once again become the cutest and coolest “Epidemic Prevention Lantern Foot”. When the palanquin arrived at Beigang Chaotian Temple that day, they set up stations at high‑traffic locations around the area and enthusiastically interacted with believers nationwide, urging the public to practice personal hygiene, prevent dengue fever, and use antibiotics correctly, standing side by side with the lantern foot to protect the health of the nation. At the same time, the CDC also reminds that recent temperature rises mean participants should not forget epidemic prevention measures during the pilgrimage. During the event, they should monitor their own health, practice hand hygiene, avoid infection and transmission of respiratory diseases, pay attention to food safety, wear light‑colored long‑sleeved clothing to prevent mosquito bites, stay hydrated, avoid direct sun exposure, and be careful to prevent heatstroke or sunburn. If fever, cough, or other discomfort symptoms appear, they should wear a mask, seek medical care, and rest appropriately.
The CDC states that antibiotic resistance is a hidden killer to health; clinical studies show that patients infected with multidrug‑resistant bacteria have an increased risk of death, and high‑risk groups such as those over 50 years old and patients with chronic diseases should be especially vigilant about respiratory infections. In addition, according to the CDC’s 2025 “Antibiotic Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices” public survey, about 40% of the public still mistakenly regard antibiotics as anti‑inflammatory or pain‑relieving drugs.
The CDC explains that to raise public awareness of antimicrobial resistance and improve correct knowledge about antibiotic use, the event not only promoted good hygiene habits and food safety, but also reinforced the “4 No’s and 1 Must” principle for antibiotic use: do not request antibiotics, do not purchase them on your own, do not take someone else’s medication, do not stop treatment arbitrarily, and be sure to follow the doctor’s prescription. At the same time, practical and diverse educational materials were specially designed, including a “Correct Antibiotic Use Folding Fan” for hot weather and a “Correct Antibiotic Use Storage Box” suitable for carrying small personal items, hoping that through on‑site interaction and slogans, public attention and recall of antibiotic resistance issues will increase, truly achieving proper medication use and reducing the spread of resistant bacteria.
The CDC notes that after three consecutive years of participating in the Baisha Tun Mazu pilgrimage on foot, it hopes that as the pilgrimage team penetrates deeper into communities and gets closer to people, epidemic prevention concepts will gradually be integrated into religious culture and daily life, spreading like incense smoke, strengthening community prevention networks, and making prevention a part of everyday life, “courageously” safeguarding the health of the nation.
The CDC again urges that as the weather gradually becomes hotter, conditions become favorable for vector‑borne and gastrointestinal infections. Implementing regular inspection and cleaning of potential breeding sites is one of the most important measures to prevent dengue fever and other vector‑borne diseases; households should frequently inspect and eliminate standing water containers around the home. When outdoors, wear light‑colored long‑sleeved clothing and use government‑approved mosquito repellents containing effective ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535 to avoid bites. Additionally, when eating out, pay attention to food safety and the cleanliness of the dining environment, and regularly wash hands correctly with soap to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal infections.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Compiled by: Ganguan Office
