24th August 2024 (11 Topics)
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Cholera Outbreak in Sudan
Context
More than 350 cases of cholera have been recorded in a new outbreak in Sudan in just a few weeks.
What is Cholera?
- Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water. It is spread when people drink infected water, when people with open wounds have direct contact with the contaminated water, and, in some cases, when they eat raw shellfish.
- The disease causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration. If the disease is left untreated, cholera can kill within hours – even people who were previously healthy.
- Transmission: It cannot be transmitted from person to person, so casual contact with a person who has the disease is not a risk.
- While the disease might not cause illness to everyone exposed to it, infected people can still pass the bacteria in their stool, contaminating food and water supplies. This is a particular problem where there are no working sanitation facilities.
- Vulnerability: Children under the age of five have the highest rates of infection, but all age groups are at risk, especially those suffering from malnutrition, those who are immunocompromised or who lack prior vaccination.
Treatment:
- Rehydration to replace the lost fluids.
- Other treatments include intravenous fluids, antibiotics and zinc supplements.
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