Three Current Disease Crises
The Democratic Republic of Congo: Cholera Outbreak- In November of 2012 there was a large rainfall and flooding in the Congo, which destroyed drainage systems, latrines, and affected many other sources of water. A few weeks afterward the first case of cholera occurred. This epidemic is still happening and so far there have been 15 deaths and 656 cases of cholera (reliefweb.int/). The DRC has experienced cholera as a nation many times before. The most recent incident was in July of 2012. The previous year, 2011 in July another cholera outbreak occurred. Cholera outbreaks happened in the Democratic Republic of Congo in June 2003 and September and March of 2002 (World Health Organization).
Cholera is a diarrheal disease. It can kill within hours if left untreated. The number of global cases is estimated 3-5 million every year. Almost all cases of cholera can be successfully treated simply through rehydration treatments. Cholera is a waterborne disease. The key to preventing cholera is safe water sources and sanitation. There is an oral vaccine for cholera. However, the successful prevention of cholera cases lies in proper sanitation. Every year there are 100,000-120,000 deaths due to cholera worldwide.
Cholera was introduced to the world in the 19th century. Its origins were in India. When the British took control of India, cholera then began to spread to different continents.
Due to the conflict and the poor economy in the Democratic Republic of Congo Cholera outbreaks are likely to happen. Yet, if proper sanitation is implemented, future outbreaks could be prevented (World Health Organization).
Solomon Islands: Dengue Outbreak - Apr 2013: In January 2013, almost 1,970 dengue cases were reported, resulting in three deaths. More than 1,800 of these cases have been reported in Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands. The other cases that have been reported are in the provinces of Guadalcanal and Gizo. There has been a steep increase in the hospitalization of suspected cases in the aftermath of the earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck February 6, 2013. The ongoing rainy season increases the breeding sites of mosquitos, which transmits the disease. Officials say they have been unable to contain the spread of dengue fever with new cases reported throughout the country. There are serious concerns that a spread of the outbreak to the provinces will be very difficult to manage without further support. Following a request from the Solomon Islands Government, the governments of Australia and New Zealand have sent medical teams to assist with providing medical care and financial support (reliefweb.int/).
Dengue is a disease that can cause a severe fever or a debilitating fever. It causes great pain in the eye muscles and can cause a rash. There is no pharmaceutical treatment other than staying hydrated. It is passed through the bite of an Aedes mosquito. As a result, this disease usually occurs in tropical climates. Dengue can lead to a hemorrhagic fever. These symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting along with a debilitating fever. Early diagnosis, hydration, and rest are the only things that can increase survival rate of this disease.
Ethiopia: Yellow Fever Outbreak May 2013- On 7 May 2013, six cases of Yellow Fever were confirmed in South Omo in the SNNPR region. The Ministry of Health is launching an emergency mass-vaccination campaign in six districts of Ethiopia (reliefweb.int/). The campaign aims to cover more than 527, 000 people in the six districts. The International Coordinating Group on Yellow Fever Vaccine Provision (YF-ICG11) has said that it will provide over 585,800 doses of yellow fever vaccine for the mass vaccination campaign run by the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia. The six laboratory-confirmed cases are from South Omo, in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' region. There is a national surveillance program for yellow fever, which is how the six cases were discovered (World Health Organization).
Yellow fever has not been present in Ethipia since 2000. However, yellow fever is an age old disease. It can be identified in ancient texts from 400 years ago. Yellow fever (YF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by infected mosquitoes. There are three stages of yellow fever that allow it to be transmitted to new hosts. Yet, yellow fever is preventable through a vaccine. Mass immunization is the goal when it comes to keeping future cases of yellow fever from occurring (World Health Organization).
Sources:
"Cholera." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://www.who.int/topics/cholera/about/en/index.html>.
"Dengue." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://www.who.int/topics/dengue/en/>.
"ReliefWeb." Congo: Cholera Outbreak. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2013-000040-cog>.
"ReliefWeb." Ethiopia: Yellow Fever Outbreak. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2013-000067-eth>.
"ReliefWeb." Solomon Islands: Dengue Outbreak. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2013-000039-slb>.
"Yellow Fever in Ethiopia." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_05_31/en/>.
"Yellow Fever." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://www.who.int/csr/disease/yellowfev/en/>.
"Yellow Fever." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/yellow_fever/en/>.
Cholera is a diarrheal disease. It can kill within hours if left untreated. The number of global cases is estimated 3-5 million every year. Almost all cases of cholera can be successfully treated simply through rehydration treatments. Cholera is a waterborne disease. The key to preventing cholera is safe water sources and sanitation. There is an oral vaccine for cholera. However, the successful prevention of cholera cases lies in proper sanitation. Every year there are 100,000-120,000 deaths due to cholera worldwide.
Cholera was introduced to the world in the 19th century. Its origins were in India. When the British took control of India, cholera then began to spread to different continents.
Due to the conflict and the poor economy in the Democratic Republic of Congo Cholera outbreaks are likely to happen. Yet, if proper sanitation is implemented, future outbreaks could be prevented (World Health Organization).
Solomon Islands: Dengue Outbreak - Apr 2013: In January 2013, almost 1,970 dengue cases were reported, resulting in three deaths. More than 1,800 of these cases have been reported in Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands. The other cases that have been reported are in the provinces of Guadalcanal and Gizo. There has been a steep increase in the hospitalization of suspected cases in the aftermath of the earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck February 6, 2013. The ongoing rainy season increases the breeding sites of mosquitos, which transmits the disease. Officials say they have been unable to contain the spread of dengue fever with new cases reported throughout the country. There are serious concerns that a spread of the outbreak to the provinces will be very difficult to manage without further support. Following a request from the Solomon Islands Government, the governments of Australia and New Zealand have sent medical teams to assist with providing medical care and financial support (reliefweb.int/).
Dengue is a disease that can cause a severe fever or a debilitating fever. It causes great pain in the eye muscles and can cause a rash. There is no pharmaceutical treatment other than staying hydrated. It is passed through the bite of an Aedes mosquito. As a result, this disease usually occurs in tropical climates. Dengue can lead to a hemorrhagic fever. These symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting along with a debilitating fever. Early diagnosis, hydration, and rest are the only things that can increase survival rate of this disease.
Ethiopia: Yellow Fever Outbreak May 2013- On 7 May 2013, six cases of Yellow Fever were confirmed in South Omo in the SNNPR region. The Ministry of Health is launching an emergency mass-vaccination campaign in six districts of Ethiopia (reliefweb.int/). The campaign aims to cover more than 527, 000 people in the six districts. The International Coordinating Group on Yellow Fever Vaccine Provision (YF-ICG11) has said that it will provide over 585,800 doses of yellow fever vaccine for the mass vaccination campaign run by the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia. The six laboratory-confirmed cases are from South Omo, in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' region. There is a national surveillance program for yellow fever, which is how the six cases were discovered (World Health Organization).
Yellow fever has not been present in Ethipia since 2000. However, yellow fever is an age old disease. It can be identified in ancient texts from 400 years ago. Yellow fever (YF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by infected mosquitoes. There are three stages of yellow fever that allow it to be transmitted to new hosts. Yet, yellow fever is preventable through a vaccine. Mass immunization is the goal when it comes to keeping future cases of yellow fever from occurring (World Health Organization).
Sources:
"Cholera." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://www.who.int/topics/cholera/about/en/index.html>.
"Dengue." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://www.who.int/topics/dengue/en/>.
"ReliefWeb." Congo: Cholera Outbreak. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2013-000040-cog>.
"ReliefWeb." Ethiopia: Yellow Fever Outbreak. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2013-000067-eth>.
"ReliefWeb." Solomon Islands: Dengue Outbreak. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2013-000039-slb>.
"Yellow Fever in Ethiopia." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_05_31/en/>.
"Yellow Fever." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://www.who.int/csr/disease/yellowfev/en/>.
"Yellow Fever." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2013. <http://www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/yellow_fever/en/>.