Introduction
Do you know that in June 2024 there was a report on a cholera outbreak by the NCDC (Nigeria Center for Disease Control) in some parts of Nigeria? Just less than 2 weeks after the announcement, death cases caused by cholera filled the news. This kept many Nigerians on their toes as no one wanted to fall victim to the disease. In this article, we will be considering the causes and measures to prevent cholera.
What is Cholera?
Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by intestinal infection with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. This contagious disease affects people when they ingest contaminated food or water. Cholera is characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, often described as “rice-water stools”, vomiting, weakness, dry mouth, muscle cramps, and sunken eyes. Although the infection is often mild, sometimes it can become severe, resulting in rapid dehydration and death if untreated. This is how terrible cholera can be!
What are the Causes of Cholera
One of the major causes of cholera is the consumption of contaminated food and water. In rural communities, it has been observed that they do not have access to good water.
And for their day-to-day activities, they use polluted water. In the process, their food and water get contaminated resulting in cholera. Raw or improperly cooked seafood caught inside polluted waters also causes cholera. When seafood such as vegetables and fish are eaten raw or not cooked with high heat. The bacteria spreads from inside the food to the body which results in cholera. Unhygienic practices are another prominent cause of cholera. Overflowing gutters, overgrown bushes, and dumping of dirt inside gutters and by the roadside. These are a few of the unhygienic practices prominent in rural communities. These practices have been known to aid the spread of diseases including bacteria.
How to Prevent the Spread of Cholera
Cholera is preventable and this can only happen when sustainable preventive measures are put in place across the country. Most especially in rural communities with inadequate infrastructure. To mention a few, access to clean water is a way of preventing subsequent cholera outbreaks. The provision of boreholes and taps flowing with safe drinking water to areas without clean water is important; healthy environmental practices such as weekly sanitation of streets and marketplaces, disposal of dirt on only authorized sites, and maintenance of drainage systems should be encouraged; and, vaccination of residents with oral cholera vaccines in high-risk areas can provide temporary protection and immunity.
Conclusion
Cholera is gradually becoming a recurrent disease during the rainy season and it must be nipped in the bud before it becomes a threat to human lives. By taking in contaminated food and water, and living in unclean environments, more persons are at risk of cholera. However, if preventive measures are taken and put in place we can beat cholera out of our country.
