Cholera in Haiti
Raven Bordeaux
Cholera in Haiti
January 22, 2013
Diseases, such as cholera usually result in a medical condition whether it can be physically, mentally or lead to death. Diseases can affect many people and their environment conditions, whether it is domestically or globally. This spread of disease is what is currently taking place in Haiti as discussed in The New York Times article. There is an outbreak of the disease Cholera in Haiti that is affecting many people young and old.
Many diseases can be defined as an abnormal condition that makes a person or country ill. Some type of signs, symptoms or some types of risk factors that can breakout usually accompanies it. Although most cholera infections are not detected, large cholera outbreaks, such as those seen in Haiti (Chao DL, Halloran ME), Vietnam (WHO. Outbreak news) and Zimbabwe (OCHA) in recent years, can occur. Cholera, an acute diarrheal disease caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium vibrio cholera, can be spread when the feces of an infected person contaminate food or water (Medical New Today). It rarely spreads between people. The signs and symptoms are severe nausea and vomiting, watery diarrhea and fever. With this symptoms leads to dehydration and even shock and usually then is when the disease becomes fatal. Cholera can be treated with IV fluids, antibiotics, vaccinations and dehydration therapies (Medical New Today). Outbreaks from cholera have been ongoing in Haiti since October 2010, after the earthquake hit. According to the Ministere de la Sante Publique et de la Population (MSPP), as of July 22, 2012, 581,952 cases and 7,455 deaths have been reported since the cholera epidemic began in Haiti (CDC). The United Nations bears heavy responsibility for the outbreak: its own peacekeepers introduced the disease through sewage leaks at one of their encampments (NYTimes). Since the UN feels responsible, they are trying to fund a vaccination program to help those in need
Cholera in Haiti
January 22, 2013
Diseases, such as cholera usually result in a medical condition whether it can be physically, mentally or lead to death. Diseases can affect many people and their environment conditions, whether it is domestically or globally. This spread of disease is what is currently taking place in Haiti as discussed in The New York Times article. There is an outbreak of the disease Cholera in Haiti that is affecting many people young and old.
Many diseases can be defined as an abnormal condition that makes a person or country ill. Some type of signs, symptoms or some types of risk factors that can breakout usually accompanies it. Although most cholera infections are not detected, large cholera outbreaks, such as those seen in Haiti (Chao DL, Halloran ME), Vietnam (WHO. Outbreak news) and Zimbabwe (OCHA) in recent years, can occur. Cholera, an acute diarrheal disease caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium vibrio cholera, can be spread when the feces of an infected person contaminate food or water (Medical New Today). It rarely spreads between people. The signs and symptoms are severe nausea and vomiting, watery diarrhea and fever. With this symptoms leads to dehydration and even shock and usually then is when the disease becomes fatal. Cholera can be treated with IV fluids, antibiotics, vaccinations and dehydration therapies (Medical New Today). Outbreaks from cholera have been ongoing in Haiti since October 2010, after the earthquake hit. According to the Ministere de la Sante Publique et de la Population (MSPP), as of July 22, 2012, 581,952 cases and 7,455 deaths have been reported since the cholera epidemic began in Haiti (CDC). The United Nations bears heavy responsibility for the outbreak: its own peacekeepers introduced the disease through sewage leaks at one of their encampments (NYTimes). Since the UN feels responsible, they are trying to fund a vaccination program to help those in need