Venezuela might be affected between this Monday and tomorrow Tuesday by a cloud of dust from the Sahara desert, located in the northern part of Africa. This was reported by the Venezuelan meteorologist Luis Vargas in Twitter.
“Slight to moderate concentrations of dust from the Sahara will be arriving in the eastern Caribbean, including Venezuela, between Monday, February 14 at night and Tuesday, February 15 at dawn,” said the expert on the social network.
Vargas recalled that, among other effects, air quality and horizontal visibility are reduced. The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, until the publication of this note, had not reported on the phenomenon.
Update of the forecast issued last Friday https://t.co/R16BUfvkXg:
Light to moderate concentrations of Dust from the Sahara, will be arriving in the Eastern Caribbean, including Venezuela, between tomorrow Monday #14Feb at night and on Tuesday # 15Feb at dawn pic.twitter.com/M648KqL4Sk
– Luis Vargas (@Meteovargas) February 13, 2022
How to protect yourself?
The World Health Organization has pointed out that citizensThes must shelter in their homes when there is a concentration of dust. Older adults, children and pregnant women should be more aware.
Recommends, before this type of event, the use of masks or face coverings. If people don’t have one nearby, they can use a wet cloth between their nose and mouth.
If you have a sensation of foreign bodies in the eyes, the organization suggests wash with plenty of water, drinking, boiled or chlorinated. Before doing this procedure, they must have their hands previously washed.
Lastly, it is recommended cover the floors of homes with water so that no particles remain in the air when sweeping, as well as not leaving containers with water uncovered so that they are not contaminated.
The WHO indicates that dust from the Sahara contains bacteria, mercury, viruses, iron and pesticides. And that people who suffer from respiratory problems are not only threatened by covid-19, but also by this dust cloud, reviewa BBC Mundo. in a note.
He explained that when this cloud of dust from the Sahara appears, it is common for cases of flu or allergies to be reported in people. These cases can be caused by contact with particles of biological origin.
