Chapter 853 Epidemic Prevention Measures The next day, after Shen Mo woke up, she found herself resting her head on Lu Qingyang's arm.
Having faced life and death, she felt increasingly distant from this man.
Lu Qingyang woke up almost at the same time. He moved his slightly numb arm and turned his head to look at the hands of the mechanical watch on his wrist.
"It's too early, the rain seems to have stopped outside. We need to hurry back, everyone must be worried sick."
The two quickly tidied themselves up.
Lu Qingyang carefully sensed the situation outside and, after confirming that the area was safe, took Shen Mo away from that tranquil paradise and returned to the chaotic reality after the flood receded.
The air was still humid, but the downpour had stopped, and the sky revealed a long-lost gray-white hue.
As they helped each other, covered in mud but with firm steps, they returned to the makeshift medical point, where a somber atmosphere permeated the air.
Many people assumed the couple had perished in the flood.
"Dr. Shen, Comrade Lu." Li Jianguo was the first to see them. He suddenly stood up from a pile of supplies, his bloodshot eyes gleaming with immense joy and relief.
"You...you're back, that's wonderful!" He strode forward to greet them, his voice choked with emotion.
God knows how many people were on tenterhooks that night.
"I'm sorry to have worried everyone." Lu Qingyang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the medical station.
Under the makeshift shack lay many more disaster victims rescued from various places: an elderly person with a fever and cough, a child with external injuries, and even a pale-faced pregnant woman clutching her stomach. As soon as Shen Mo saw them, her professional instincts made her forget her own exhaustion and quickly walk over to begin questioning and examining them.
Li Jianguo rubbed his hands together and said solemnly to Lu Qingyang, "Comrade Lu, thank you so much. The medicines you brought back, especially the antibiotics and first-aid kits, saved many people. Several seriously injured people have been stabilized."
He pointed to the empty boxes piled up in the corner, his tone full of gratitude.
Looking at the bustling scene before him, Lu Qingyang felt heavy-hearted.
"There's plenty I can do. Is there anything else urgently needed?"
Li Jianguo sighed and led him to a makeshift stove made of stones, where thin noodles were cooking in a pot.
He ladled a bowl and handed it to Lu Qingyang: "Eat something for now. We've received orders to take supplies and medical personnel to Tiger Village ahead. There's an isolated village there, and the situation might be worse. We must clear the road as soon as possible to get there and rescue them."
Lu Qingyang took the bowl and was about to speak when a young soldier lying on a stretcher next to him, his legs wrapped in thick bandages, suddenly struggled to lift his head, looked at Lu Qingyang carefully, and asked with some certainty, "Hey? You...you are...that expert comrade who fought with us before?"
The tent fell silent for a moment. Even Shen Mo, who was examining the pregnant woman, stopped what she was doing and looked up.
The young soldier's face was still covered in mud, but his eyes lit up: "It's you, it must be you. I know you. You didn't attend the commendation ceremony, and everyone felt it was a pity. You are a true hero."
Li Jianguo and the other soldiers looked at Lu Qingyang in surprise.
They only knew that this person was Dr. Shen's lover who had sent valuable supplies, but they never imagined that he had also participated in other battles.
Under the soldier's eager gaze, Lu Qingyang calmly shook his head, squatted down, and said, "I just want the soldiers to get hurt."
He patted the soldier's uninjured shoulder and stood up.
Shen Mo watched his straight back from afar, feeling pride, heartache, and above all, understanding.
She lowered her head and continued to listen attentively to the pregnant woman's fetal heartbeat, but a soft smile curved her lips slightly.
Lu Qingyang quickly finished his noodles and glanced at the crowded and rudimentary temporary medical point once again.
He frowned slightly, realizing a pressing issue.
He found the teacher in charge of the team who was discussing the transfer of the wounded with several medical staff, as well as Li Jianguo, who had just finished assigning tasks.
"Everyone, there's an urgent matter. After a flood, disease outbreaks are most likely to occur. Water sources and the environment have been contaminated. With so many injured people and crowds gathered here, we must start disease prevention immediately."
Shen Mo had just finished the initial examination of the pregnant woman when she heard this. She immediately turned her head and nodded with a serious expression: "Qingyang is right. Dysentery, typhoid fever, and even cholera can spread very quickly in this environment. Prevention must be done in advance."
The team leader, a seasoned doctor, immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation: "Epidemic prevention is key! But what we lack most right now are medicines and disinfectant supplies..."
"Among the medicines I brought, there should be some broad-spectrum antibiotics and medicinal ingredients for clearing heat and detoxifying,"
Lu Qingyang quickly replied, recalling that such reserves were on the space supplies list. "We can immediately organize people to boil some anti-epidemic medicine soup in a large pot, and distribute it to each person every day. This will at least have a certain preventive effect."
"Okay, I'll take some people to check the medicines right away!" a female team member in charge of the pharmacy replied immediately.
Lu Qingyang then looked at the soldiers resting outside, including Li Jianguo: "Also, the animal carcasses that have been submerged in water must be dealt with as soon as possible. If left unattended, they will rot and become a major source of disease. We need to organize manpower to collect the animal carcasses that can be retrieved, and then burn and bury them deeply."
Li Jianguo looked troubled: "Burning? This... requires fuel, and the smell is probably..."
“Use damp firewood and straw to control the smoke as much as possible, and choose a location downwind, away from people and water sources. This is a traditional method, but it must be done now.” Lu Qingyang’s tone was firm. “It’s better than letting the plague spread. I’ll go with you.”
Shen Mo walked over and said to Lu Qingyang, "I'll oversee the preparation of the medicine. Pay attention to the ingredients and the heat. When you handle the corpses, be sure to stay away from water sources. The person handling the body should cover their nose with a damp cloth and wash thoroughly with soap afterwards. If possible, spray your clothes and shoes with the disinfectant you brought."
Her supplementary remarks were professional and detailed. Lu Qingyang nodded, and the two exchanged a knowing glance.
Soon, two large iron pots were set up in the medical station. Shen Mo led the people to count the available medicinal materials and began to boil a bitter-smelling anti-epidemic medicine soup.
Lu Qingyang, along with Li Jianguo and several soldiers, carrying tools and simple protective gear, headed towards the mudflats left behind after the floodwaters receded outside the medical point.
The work of retrieving and transporting animal carcasses is arduous yet arduous.
In the murky, muddy water, one can sometimes see the bloated carcasses of livestock, emitting a nauseating stench.
Lu Qingyang did not back down at all. He took the lead in using long poles and hooks to retrieve the firewood, and directed the soldiers to choose suitable spots to dig deep pits and move the wet firewood.
When the first pile of firewood mixed with animal carcasses was lit, thick smoke billowed up, filling the air with a pungent odor. Many of the affected villagers and people at the medical station watched from afar. Some covered their noses, while others showed understanding and gratitude in their eyes.
Li Jianguo walked to his side, handed him a wet towel, and said in a low voice, "Comrade Lu, it's thanks to your thoughtfulness. Otherwise, if the epidemic really breaks out, the consequences will be very serious."
"Just doing my part." Lu Qingyang wiped his face and looked toward the direction of "Tiger Gate," which was still surrounded by floodwaters in the distance. "The situation there is probably more troublesome."
Following his gaze, Li Jianguo's expression turned serious again: "Yes, that's why we must clear the road as soon as possible."
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