Cholera is a disease that occurs mostly in the form of an epidemic, and affects hundreds of thousands of people in vast areas. It is noted that this happens a lot in times of war, so what is the reason?
Cholera was known for many centuries, and her first international epidemic recorded in the 19th century. Since then, 6 epidemics have killed millions of people around the world. The current epidemic (seventh) began in South Asia in 1961, and still affects the population around the world, according to the World Health Organization.
It appears that cholera, caused by cholera bacteria, appears to be especially sensitive to conflicts.
The main risk factors of cholera are poverty, overcrowding, poor hygiene, contaminated food and safe drinking water, and they are very similar to the consequences of war and fighting.
Cholera spoke in:
- Countries witnessing civil war and turmoil
- Cases that have great displacement, as temporary camps accommodate large numbers of refugees in bad conditions
- During the post -war period, when a large number of people return to their homes, putting unjustified pressure on the eroded and fragile national infrastructure.
- Countries with higher rates of nutrition, refugees and children’s deaths
- Countries with less suitable water and sanitation facilities
What is cholera?
Cholera is an acute diarrhea infection caused by eating food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. It poses a global threat to public health, and indicates inequality and a lack of social and economic development. Obtaining clean water, sanitation and basic hygiene services is necessary to prevent cholera and other water -transferred diseases, according to the World Health Organization.
Most people with cholera suffer from mild or medium diarrhea, and can be treated with oral lying solution (ORS). However, the disease can develop quickly, so starting treatment quickly is vital to saving lives. Patients with severe diseases need intravenous fluids, oral heavenly solution and antibiotics.
Countries need strong epidemic and laboratory monitoring to detect cases of disease outbreaks, quickly monitor them and direct responses.
Cholera symptoms
Cholera can cause severe and severe water diarrhea, it may be fatal within hours if it is not treated. Symptoms of most people with cholera do not appear, but they can spread bacteria through their stools for a day to 10 days. Symptoms appear after 12 hours to 5 days of injury.
Most people with the disease suffer from mild or medium symptoms. A minority of patients suffers from severe water diarrhea and drought that threatens life.
Cholera breeds
Two groups only caused “or 1” (O1) and “or 139” (O139), cholera outbreaks. The cholera vibrio “or 1” has caused all the recent cholera outbreaks. The cholera vibrio or 139 “caused the outbreak of the disease in Asia in the past, but it was recently identified only in separate cases. There is no difference in the disease caused by the two worst groups.
Cholera outbreaks are spread regularly in some countries. In other countries, they are less frequent, and it may take years from every case to another. Cholera is associated with limited access to drinking water, basic sewage facilities and poor hygiene practices. This may be due to conflicts, population displacement and climate phenomena such as hurricanes, floods or droughts, and a lack of investment in maintenance and improvement of water, sanitation and infrastructure services.
The number of cholera cases reported to the World Health Organization has continued to rise in recent years. In 2023, 535 thousand and 321 cases and 4007 deaths of the World Health Organization were reported from 45 countries.
Prevention and control of cholera includes a mixture of enhancing monitoring, improving water, sanitation and hygiene services, increasing communication on risks and community participation, improving opportunities to obtain high -quality treatment, and implementing oral cholera vaccine campaigns.
The long -term solution to combat cholera lies in economic development, providing safe drinking water for all, basic sewage services, and good hygiene practices.
Water, sanitation and health hygiene interventions help prevent water -transmitted diseases, including cholera, and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals. During cholera outbreaks, the implementation of water, sanitation and healthy hygiene activities can reduce their transmission. These activities include improving water, sanitation and health hygiene services in healthcare facilities, water quality control, distribution of water, sanitation and health hygiene to local communities, and promoting preventive hygiene practices.
Cholera
Cholera is an easy -to -treat disease. Most people with it can be treated successfully by giving oral lying solution (ORS) immediately. Patients with severe dehydration are at risk of death due to dehydration and need fast venous fluids. They also receive oral heavenly solution and antibiotics. Patients with underlying cases or accompanying diseases may need additional care in specific treatment centers. The death rate in treatment centers should remain less than 1%.
The access of society to the oral lying solution (ORS) is necessary during cholera outbreaks. Collective giving to antibiotics is not recommended to prevent cholera (chemical protection), because there is no effect on its spread. Cholera may contribute to antimicrobial resistance.