Cholera - its global impact

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Cholera

Cholera is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera, which usually spreads through contaminated water. It affects the absorption of water in the small intestine and in severe cases produces severe diarrhoea. The most dangerous aspect of Cholera is the immense loss of fluid that can occur within a few days. Without treatment within 24 hours of developing the disease, the loss of fluid can be fatal. Many cases, such as those in Zimbabwe, require hospitalisation of infected people so that fluids can be administered straight into the bloodstream with the use of a drip.

           Cholera bacteria occur naturally in coastal waters, where they attach to tiny crustaceans called Copepods. The Cholera bacteria travel with the Copepods, spreading worldwide as the crustaceans follow their food sources, which are certain types of algae and plankton. These grow rapidly when the water temperatures rise and algae growth is further increased by the urea found in sewage and agricultural runoff. Therefore most Cholera outbreaks occur in spring and autumn when ocean surface temperatures and algae blooms are at their highest. More algae mean more Copepods, and more Copepods mean more Cholera bacteria.

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The map on the left shows that the areas that Cholera is discovered in are situated below the Brandt line. This is because these areas are surrounded by warm oceans where the growth of algae will be high. Therefore the Cholera bacteria will occur in higher frequency in these areas. This is proven by the map of the world below, which shows the temperatures of the world’s oceans. Many people now fear that Cholera could emerge in regions, such as the southern coasts of the United States, as the sea temperature rise. If this was the case then Cholera could ...

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An excellent overview of Cholera using a specific case study. This answer would benefit from a conclusion and referencing. 4 Stars.