Cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE | Monday, 29 December 2008 | Views [606]

An outbreak of Cholera continues to wreak havoc in Zimbabwe, according to WHO reports.  December 1st saw over 11,000 cases and 484 deaths from Cholera, since August 2008.  Zimbabwe has been the site for previous Cholera outbreaks in 1999 and 2002. 

Cholera Basics:

Cholera is a bacterial illness affecting the gastro-intestinal tract.  Common symptoms include profuse, watery diarrhea and vomiting.  Death is through severe dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities cause by massive fluid loss. 

Infectious Agent:

Vibrio cholera

Prevention:

Spread through poor water sanitation or eating food contaminated with the bacteria, proper hygiene is essential.  Fecal-oral transmission is common with drinking water and food handlers using poor hygiene.  Hand washing is a valuable tool and should be frequent, especially before meals.  This is exactly why travelers should be cautious about drinking water, fruits and veggies.  Currently, there is no effective vaccine for cholera.

Treatment:

Major complications with cholera center around the massive loss of body fluid, through diarrhea and vomiting.  The mainstay of treatment is aggressive re-hydration, either orally or if needed, intravenously.  Oral fluids should include sugar, salt and potassium to combat the electrolyte abnormalities.  Commercial sports drinks often work well, for adults.  Travelers in a bind can make their own solution using a spoon of sugar, a pinch or two of salt and some mashed fruit or fruit juice, added to a glass of water.  Dehydration can become severe, requiring many liters of water, per day, to maintain minimal hydration.  Much is written on the "correct replacement fluid" for cholera victims and the important thing is to be aggressive.  Antibiotics, such as tetracycline or erythromycin can shorten the duration of diarrhea and reduce the period of shedding bacteria in feces.     

Cholera is normally a treatable disease with mortality rates around 1%, largely due to a lack of access to healthcare.  The recent outbreak has featured mortality rates as high as 20-30%, mostly in rural areas.

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Written by WorldNomads.com's roving medical expert and afficionado of Adventure Travel Health, Dr. Erik McLaughlin MD.

Tags: cholera, health, travel health, zimbabwe, who

  

 

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