Cholera is one of the most ancient scourges of Humankind with periodic appearances in regions of extreme poverty and/or devastated by war or natural disasters. Transmitted by the faeco-oral route, the Koch bacillus spreads when the disadvantaged populations lack good water and proper sanitation services; it disproportionately affects children and their mothers.
An editorial in “The Lancet” stated that “the global annual cholera burden is estimated at around 2.9 million cases per year, resulting in 95000 death. In 2017, these estimates could be far exceeded due to a number of devastating outbreaks, including those in Yemen and northern Nigeria. So far this year, 750000 possible cases, causing over 2000 deaths, have occurred in Yemen.”
This deadly disease is endemic in more than 40 countries where the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure is completely inadequate. At present the biggest incidence occurs in endemic areas of Africa, which has been worsened by the accelerated urbanisation that created slums in cities.
The design of an oral cholera vaccine (OCV) and the scientific study of the acquired immunity in humans have fostered the implementation of better and safer vaccination campaigns to control the epidemics; the WHO has stockpiled a good supply of vaccines in strategic depots in the affected areas.
Since 2013, 13 million vaccines have been used on an emergency basis. The Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) has pooled the resources and know-how of contaminated countries, private donors and academicians in order to develop a multi-faceted strategy to eradicate the disease for good.
The GTFCC designed a three-pronged approach to combat the disease:
a) Rapid response to outbreaks with good community surveillance and delivery of control kits, oral vaccines and WASH supplies in depots.
b) Create a sustainable WASH infrastructure and health care systems.
c) Coordination of the regional and international systems of support
We have the scientific know-how and technical capacity to end the cholera pandemics with the proper sanitary measures, as long as we protect the “equality” of the access of vulnerable communities to the right services and therapies. Why aren’t we doing more to eradicate this scourge from the face of our planet?
What do you think? Please tell us.
Don’t leave me alone.
Indeed, that’s A big problem.
Good morning and thanks for your commentary.
Well with all these natural disasters and water problems, we may see a resurgence in a few years.
Good morning and thanks for yout commentary dear Del. Indeed we will sadly see more cholera outbreaks in these disaster ateas. A kiss. Au revoir!
It makes me sad what companies do with the vaccines. I know sometimes vaccines are needed to save a life but some I think are created to cause more harm than good. Just look at what a flu shot can cause for our health. I am sorry, but I feel like the flu shot is very dangerous and should be flat out illegal!
Buona sera cara amica e grazie per tuo commento. I must respectfully disagree with you in your erroneous condemnation of all vaccines. Vaccination and immunization of millions of us is certainly one of the greatest achievements of Mankind. Do you have any idea how many people died and/or became crippled yearly as a result of infections before Dr. Jenner made his seminal discoveyy? We can discuss the merits of one particular product but not dump all these products in the same wastebasket.
Un baccione.
Buona notte!
I do understand that some vaccines are needed to keep people alive, but there are some that are very dangerous. I am sorry, I should not have included all vaccines in that comment!
Bon giorno cara amica e grazie per tuo commento. I understand that you might have been carried away by your natural suspicion about what Big Pharma might be doing (or failing to do) with the proper, safe design and elaboration of vaccines. There have been some unconfirmed reports that some of these brands might cause an out of control autoinmune disease. We certainly have to be watchful and prodd authorities to oversee them. I hope you have a good day at work. Un grosso baccione.
Arrivederci!
Mario, escribí un comentario en Facebook pero no me lo publicaron en el Post.
Que lastina. Intenta de nuevo.