The article "Nigeria Cholera Epidemic kills 800 in 2 months" is about the cholera epidemic that struck Nigeria in September. This is the worst epidemic to reach Nigeria in 19 years. According to the World Health Organization, 7,654 people died in 1991 from cholera. So far the disease has spread to Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, killing hundreds along the way. In Nigeria alone 13,000 people have become ill with this disease. In Cameroon 300+ people have died and 5,000 are ill. In Chad 40 have died and 600 are ill. This article can be found at www.cbsnews.com.stories/2010/09/10/world/main6853420.shtml.
As we have learned from class cholera is a fast-developing, highly contagious infection that casues diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration and possible death. The most common way that cholera is spread is through dirty drinking water. In Nigeria half of the country's 150 million people lack access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation. Poor sanitation "is the backbone of this disease," said Adamu Abubakar, a Red Cross offical stationed in Nigeria. Cholera is easily treatable through rehydration.
So many people have gotten cholera that all the beds in the "hospitals" are filled so the doctors have to place the sick in storerooms and concrete hallways wet with human waste. IV's are scarse so only the really sick get them. Most of the time they go to small childern because they can die from cholera faster than adults. In the "hospitals" with not a lot of money beds do not exsist so people are using torn, yellow mattresses with only a plastic bucket underneath it to catch the waste.
People have volunteered to go out and spreay chlorine, a solution designed to kill the cholera bacteria, through the crowded, narrow, dirt filled streets of NIgeria. Chlorine tablets have also been placed in the wells. The only problem with the chlorine is that it does not last very long, so the people of Nigeria can still get cholera. The local government in Nigeria has informed the public about this disease and how to prevent yourself from contracting the disease.
Meghan, nice choice in article. It is really interesting to see that cholera is still a major issue in the world today even though we are currently learning about the epidemic that took place in London in the mid-19th century. It amazes me that people stil suffer so much from cholera today because we have the knowledge necessary to cure and prevent in. It is truly sad that some countries do not have clean water, something that we take for granted every day. This article and blog post were a great connection to what we are learning in class!
ReplyDeleteCholera has been affecting millions of people since the 19th century. We have seen how badly it has infected the citizens of Haiti, and it is now present in Nigeria as well. As unfortunate as it sounds, it does not necessarily surprise me that countries like Haiti and Nigeria are being infected. Their life styles are completely different and the people are suseptible to many more types of diseases. They are third-world countries and almost everybody is living in extreme poverty. Like we have mentioned in class, certain living conditions and social class levels can lead to a more chance of contracting terrible diseases. Getting clean water is a struggle and this case should not be taken lightly. You would think that in this day in time, 2010, something would be done to prevent outbreaks of a dangerous disease, like Cholera.
ReplyDeleteCholera in itself is awful enough. To imagine the situation in the way that you have described it is even worse. It's terrible that these people have to still suffer like this, especially since the last cholera outbreak in places like the US and London were hundreds of years ago. Clean drinking water should be an inalienable human right, and as such governments such as the US or other world powers should at the very least provide some sort of aid to the extent that people stop catching this centuries old disease.
ReplyDeleteMeghan, I think this was a good choice of an article. It really highlights how Cholera really is still prevalent in nations with a lack of proper resources. Articles like this really should be read in order to spread awareness for how bad the living conditions for some people are. And if the poor conditions weren't enough, they also have to worry about getting a painful and gross illness, simply from drinking water. The part where it says "poor sanitation is the backbone of this disease" sums it up pretty well.
ReplyDeleteThis article was a real powerful one and I think it really highlights what the video we watched in class talked about. Since in the US we have SO much access to clean water, really more than we need sometimes, we don't ever think about places that struggle to get simple clean drinking water. It's weird to think we have so much and yet people in places such as Nigeria are dying because they can't get any. It was a really great choice in article to show that idea.
ReplyDeleteMeghan your post was scary that 800 more people died from cholera. This article that you picked really shows how bad cholera really is. I now think that the government still isn’t doing enough to help the poor struggling people of Nigeria. Maybe the government should bring clean drinking water because obviously they do not have access to it.
ReplyDeleteThis article was a very good choice. It's a horrible thing to know that Cholera has been killing so many people in so many countries. But it is especially awful to know that in Nigeria it has killed over 800 people. I agree with what Annie was saying with how Cholera hasn't caused an epidemic in developed countries such as the United States or England since the 19th century. This is because of our clean drinking water. Clean drinking water should be available to everyone, whether they can afford it or not. It is a basic human need, and if it isn't offered for free, then horrible things like this could happen.
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