Zimbabwe’s cholera epidemic

The World
The World

(What’s confounding about this is that Harare was until recently one of the most modern and functioning cities in Africa.) Indeed, I’ve noticed it first hand. This means that the water supply for the city is no longer functioning and people are taking water directly from ponds and streams, and this is most unfortunate. (Tell us what cholera is and how it first makes its way into the human body.) cholera is a bacteria that when it lives in the natural environment carries out important functions, but when ingested by humans produces a toxin that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea, extensive loss of fluid, and the dehydration leads to systemic shock and death. It’s totally treatable with a fluid replacement. It’s a disease that is strictly an infrastructure problem: not having safe water to distribute through household. (So it’s a disease that’s an outgrowth of a society in decay?) a society under civil disruption that’s for sure. If the infrastructure can no longer function or is handled effectively, you have what occurred in London 150 years ago. (So how can it get under control?) Boiling water will kill the bacterium. (Why doesn’t that happen in Zimbabwe?) having worked in Bangladesh for 30 years, a country like that is fuel is very expensive, so people don’t have the opportunity to boil it. this is where you get a chain of events that is most tragic.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!