Cholera outbreak in the Congo

As if the situation weren't bad enough in the Congo (as detailed in my previous post), we can now add a cholera outbreak to the problems those beleaguered people are facing. Doctors without Borders and other relief agencies are reporting more than 50 cases of cholera in the last week. There have already been dozens of deaths from cholera, and that number is sure to rise given the number of refugees and the poor conditions in which they are trying to live.

According to the CDC, cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease. Most cases are mild, but about 5% are severe, and left untreated a severe case can cause death quickly. The treatment for the disease is simple hydration! While antibiotics can be of some use, the far more important, easier, and least expensive option is to keep the patient hydrated. The truth is that no one should die of cholera, but given conditions, it is likely that many people will.