BIO PROJECT

CHOLERA an infectious and often fatal bacterial disease of the small intestine, typically contracted from infected water supplies and causing severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Cause of cholera Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrato cholera, infecting people most often via contaminated water or food. Every year, cholera causes an estimated 3 to 5 million cases, and 100,000 to 120,000 deaths. The short incubation period (2 hours to 5 days) enhances the potentially explosive pattern of outbreaks. Cholera is an extremely virulent disease and causes acute watery diarrhea in both children and adults. Although three quarters of all patients develop no symptoms during the days long infection, it can kill especially those with weakened immune systems within hours if left untreated. Additionally, even asymptomatic patients spread the bacteria via defecation, which can lead to new infections.

Effect of cholera Two years of civil war in the country has spurred the spread of disease and made stopping it substantially harder. Bombings have destroyed critical infrastructure; about half of the country’s medical facilities have been closed or destroyed due to air strikes. WHO estimates that about 15 million people are without access to basic health care, and a similar number do not have regular access to clean water and sanitation, which compounds the problem. There is also a shortage of doctors and health care workers. Many have fled the country, and an estimated 30,000 local health workers who are working on the epidemic haven’t been paid in nearly 10 months.about halfestimated