Cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe

The WHO states that the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has now killed over 3,000 people and infected more than 57,000 Zimbabweans. The outbreak is the biggest and deadliest in Africa in 15 years.   Hit by drought, HIV/AIDS and economic meltdown, Zimbabwe is in the grip of its worst humanitarian crisis since independence.   Over half the country's population (seven million people) will need food aid in February and March, said the World Food Programme.

The lack of immediately available cholera kits has led Missionpharma to propose IEHKs (Interagency Emergency Health Kits) as an alternative in order to secure that immediate assistance is provided.

The IEHK contains infusion liquids as well as antibiotics, which are effective in the treatment of cholera.

Several aid organisations have already taken action and requested IEHK's to be shipped instantly.

Read more about Interagency Emergency Health Kits from Missionpharma.

   Download brochure

FACTS ON CHOLERA:    An intestinal infection caused by bacteria.  Is often linked to contaminated supplies of drinking water.  Can spread quickly in areas where there is poor sanitation.  Rarely spread by person-to-person contact.

 Q & A 

Q: What is Cholera?

A: Cholera is a diarrhoeal disease caused by infection of the intestine. In most cases, infection causes only mild diarrhoea or no symptoms at all. In 5-10% of cases, however, patients develop severe watery diarrhoea and vomiting from 6 hours to 5 days after exposure to the bacterium.

The initial symptoms of the disease are queasiness, nausea and abdominal gurgling, followed by acute diarrhoea. The loss of large amounts of fluids can rapidly lead to severe dehydration. In the absence of adequate treatment, death can occur within hours. Those who are malnourished or already have intestinal parasites can be at especially high risk of death.

Q: How did cholera get its name?

A: The disease's name was coined from the Greek word, Khole, meaning "flow of bile". Cholera's watery diarrhoea is often referred to as "rice-water" stool, as it contains flecks, which are mucus and epithelial cells. The diarrhoea causes victims to lose huge amounts of potassium ions, which can also lead to cardiac complications and circulatory failure.

Q: Where did Cholera originate?

A: The first known cholera outbreak was recorded in the Indian sub-continent in 1817. Since then at least seven distinct cholera pandemics have been recorded, the first six from the Ganges Delta, viewed as the "ancestral home" of the disease.

Q: How is cholera spread?

A: The spread of cholera and other infectious diseases is the calling card of an economy in trouble. Cholera infects humans through the consumption of infected water or contaminated food. The consumption of raw or poorly cooked seafood, raw fruit and vegetables, and other foods contaminated during preparation or storage can lead to infection.

Bacteria present in the faeces of those infected are the main source of contamination. The bacterium can also survive in brackish rivers and coastal waters. The disease spreads rapidly where sewage and drinking water supplies are inadequately treated.

Q: Can cholera be prevented?

A: Yes. People living in high-risk areas can protect themselves with good hygiene and safe food preparation, such as washing their hands before preparing food and eating, by thoroughly cooking food and eating it while it is hot, by boiling or treating drinking water, and using sanitary facilities. The simple rule is: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.

Q: What treatments are available?

A: The most important treatment is rehydration, which consists of prompt replacement of the water and salts lost through severe diarrhoea and vomiting. Early rehydration can save the lives of nearly all cholera patients. Most can be rehydrated quickly and easily by drinking large quantities of a solution of oral rehydration salts. Patients who become severely dehydrated may need to receive fluid intravenously.

Packets of oral rehydration salts are available from most city pharmacies and health care facilities. If you have diarrhoea - especially severe diarrhoea - and are in an area where there is cholera, seek treatment immediately from a physician or other trained health care provider. Begin drinking water and other non-sweetened fluids, such as soup, on the way to getting medical treatment.

Sources: World health Organisation, MedicalEcology.org, University of California, Los Angeles Department of Epidemiology, International Public Health and Human Rights in the Developing World (A Case Study in Peru), Tropical infectious diseases, principals, pathogens and practice.