Cholera
Samantha B.
What Is It?:
Cholera is an infection of the intestines caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated by the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae, and can lead to death within a day, if left untreated.
Symptoms:
- 80% of people infected with cholera have mild or moderate symptoms, or hardly any at all.
- The other 20% of people develop heavy symptoms, such as, severe diarrhea, dehydration, and vomiting.
Cholera During the Industrial Revolution:
- In London in 1831-32 was the first outbreak of Cholera. It killed 7,000 people.
- In the 1848-49 outbreak 15,000 people died.
- The disease mainly affected those in the city's poorer areas, but the rich didn't escape it either.
Causes During This Time:
- Lack of hygiene
- Drinking dirty/contaminated water from water pumps.
- Little knowledge of sanitary care
- Being close to one another while working in unclean factories or work spaces
- No knowledge of what caused diseases or how to treat/cure them.
Treatment:
- Cholera is an easily treatable disease.
- 80% of people who get it can be successfully treated through oral rehydration salts and/or antibiotics.
- Provision of safe water and sanitation is critical to control cholera and other water-born diseases