If there’s a downside to Carnival, it’s having to deal with the chemical toilets in the street blocks. They are almost always unhealthy cabins due to misuse, which, in addition to being dirty, can be full of disease-causing germs, viruses and bacteria.
However, chemical toilets are a necessary evil — after all, urinating in the street, in addition to being unhygienic, is a crime. According to infectologist Eliana Bicudo, from the Brazilian Society of Infectology (SBI), despite being uncomfortable, there are ways to use the cabins and leave unharmed.
She explains that the biggest problem when using the toilet is airway and intestinal infections. There is also a risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (ISTs), but some hygiene care is enough to avoid contagion.
“Many people will need access to a toilet and the chemical toilet brings convenience. All you have to do is take the necessary precautions, which are similar to those you should take when using a traditional bathroom,” says Eliana.
Don’t touch anything
Those who frequent the blocks have undoubtedly faced queues to go to the bathroom. The infectologist explains that, due to the agglomeration, the risk is the same as the Carnival parties themselves: Covid-19, flu, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and other contact diseases, such as mononucleosis and cytomegalovirus.
In the case of respiratory diseases, the reveler is already at risk when participating in the crowd without a mask, and entering the bathroom or not does not change the chance of being contaminated.
When it comes to intestinal infections, even the door of the place can be a bridge between those who are enjoying the party and a virus or bacteria, as well as the walls and seats. Therefore, the recommendation is not to touch absolutely anything.
“When using the bathroom, the chance of you acquiring illnesses is touching places that sick people have touched. The main care when using a chemical toilet is to try not to touch the toilet”, warns the doctor.
Under no circumstances take your drink into the bathroom, as the transmission of rotavirus, salmonella or shigella, for example, happens through the mouth. The same goes for fanny packs and purses: act as a hanger, but don’t let your belongings touch the chemical toilet. Do not bring dirty objects or hands to your face.
However, you don’t have to use the toilet and run away. “The time you stay inside a chemical toilet does not mean that you will acquire more or less diseases. So if you want to touch up your makeup in there, do it. The important thing is to wash your hands afterwards”, ponders the infectologist.
The doctor asks that each one take a container of gel alcohol and their own toilet paper in their fanny pack. You don’t need to take the whole roll – the recommendation is to take a few leaves, put them in a plastic bag and keep it in your bag.
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