We've already had hundreds of infections with this dangerous bacteria. The first 12 hours are the most important.

• The head of the Silesian Sanitary and Epidemiological Station, Dr. Grzegorz Hudzik - the State Provincial Sanitary Inspector in Katowice - informed that the institution has prepared special materials related to the summer holidays of children and young people.
• He informed that the sanitary-epidemiological station will monitor the recreation organizers and in justified cases a decision may be made to end the stay.
• The State Provincial Sanitary Inspector in Katowice reminded people how to handle food products to prevent them from harboring dangerous bacteria and ticks, especially since over 800 cases of Lyme disease infection have already been recorded in the Silesian Voivodeship.

The special educational materials mentioned include guides on the principles of safe recreation, leaflets for children, young people and parents, as well as tips on bathing and health protection during the holidays.

"As adults responsible for our children, we must check whether the facility offering recreation to the child is included on the list of facilities approved by the school board and whether it has been inspected by the sanitary inspection . We conduct such inspections before the season, as preparation for the services provided, as well as during the season, and we also respond to all signals from parents and participants," Grzegorz Hudzik told Radio Katowice.

If the allegations are confirmed, a decision may be made to end the stay.

He noted that in justified cases, a decision may be made to terminate the stay if the allegations are confirmed.

When a foodborne illness, even if caused by salmonella, occurs and spreads, there is no other option than to end the stay and the children must return home.

- explained Dr. Grzegorz Hudzik.

A list of certified summer camp organizers can be found on the websites of the Ministry of National Education and the education authorities . They include information such as who the organizer of a given camp is, whether they are registered, and whether everything is in order.

Sanitary and epidemiological stations are taking part in a pan-European campaign called "Safe2EatEu", the aim of which is to increase awareness of food safety.

According to Dr. Hudzik, the most common cause of food poisoning is improper handling of food products.

"One general rule we should follow is to store and transport the food we buy according to the manufacturer's recommendations, i.e., maintaining the so-called cold chain . If we buy a good product and keep it packaged in a hot car, we can be sure that bacteria will multiply there," he noted on Radio Katowice.

He emphasized that there are also bacteria that prefer to multiply in cold stores and refrigerators, such as Listeria monocytogenes . It's much more difficult to eliminate them from our environment because they often end up in our refrigeration equipment and thrive there. Therefore, strict hygiene and cleanliness of refrigerators are essential. He noted that listeriosis is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems.

As of the end of May of this year, 826 new cases of Lyme disease were reported in the Silesian Voivodeship . The State Provincial Sanitary Inspector in Katowice reminded on air that if you find a tick feeding on your skin, you should remove it yourself or see a doctor.

It's a race against time. The sooner we remove a tick—and it's said that if we remove it within 12 hours of attaching to our skin—we reduce the risk of transmitting the disease by almost 90 percent.

- said the head of the Silesian Sanitary Inspectorate.

However, ticks must be removed in a way that is safe for humans.

Dr. Grzegorz Hudzik said that:

• any mechanical method of removing ticks, whether using tick traps or tweezers, is highly recommended,
• You absolutely must not knead it, lubricate it with gasoline, butter, or fats, because then you provoke the tick to pump the contents of its digestive tract into your skin.