So, what is cholera anyway? This is cholera:
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| This is cholera under an electron microscope. Nasty little bugger... |
But what exactly is cholera, anyway?
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission is primarily through consuming contaminated drinking water or food. The severity of the diarrhea and vomiting can lead to rapid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Primary treatment is with oral rehydration solution and if these are not tolerated, intravenous fluids. Antibiotics are beneficial in those with severe disease. Worldwide it affects 3-5 million people and causes 100,000-130,000 deaths a year as of 2010. Cholera was one of the earliest infections to be studied by epidemiological methods.
This strain of cholera that has been found currently in Haiti, however, is NOT the strain that one would expect to have found there. From the Harvard University Medical School we see:
A cholera strain that has killed more than 2,000 people in Haiti since October is South Asian in origin, according to a study conducted by several Harvard affiliates, who matched bacteria samples from Haiti with ones from Bangladesh.
“Our main finding suggests, but does not prove, that the Haitian strain was introduced by some type of human activity from South Asia,” said Matthew K. Waldor, who organized the study and is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, as well as an attending physician in infectious diseases at Harvard-affiliate Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
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| This is where many believe the Cholera Epidemic began: UN - NEPAL |
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| And now? Many of the morgues are overflowing, and this is how many are buried at this time... |
And here are the current "numbers" on the cholera epidemic currently ravaging Haiti (the following is only a summary. For a more complete report, click the link to the source):
Haiti: Cholera Situation Report #25 - 10 December 2010
I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
· The Ministry of Health (MSPP) has reported 2,193 deaths and 46,749 hospitalised cases of cholera since the beginning of the outbreak. The in-hospital fatality rate is 3.2 percent nationwide.
· Cholera response activities have been greatly affected and disrupted by the ongoing political crisis, due to the contested release of the first round presidential election results.
· Lack of partners for WASH as well as for other clusters is reported as one of the major contraints to implementing cholera response activities in many parts of the country; including the North West and Centre Departments.
· CCCM partners are currently trying to get back to normal operations after three days of interruption of cholera response activities.
Source: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/MMAH-8C29RZ?OpenDocument
Many hold out with hope for a solution...
One thing I noted while on the ground in Haiti was this: Where there is less of the "world" or the "social order" we've masked the earth with, the more easily it is to see the Hand of God in motion...
In Haiti, where there is faith in God... Oh how incredibly great is that faith...
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Let us keep the people of Haiti in our thoughts and prayers... And if your soul feels burdened with the desire to reach out a hand and snatch up those that you can out of this "mud" then I invite you to make a financial and prayerful contribution to IV4HAITI.
I can assure you of this much... You won't regret the consequence of compassion...
Thanks so very much for stoppin' by!
Nothin' but Lovin'
Paul
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