Cholera
As many as 1 out of 2 people with untreated cholera die
Africa's rising epidemic
Spread by a bacteria in contaminated food and water, cholera remains a serious problem for much of the developing world. One of the most easily transmitted diseases, cholera causes uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea, often leading to severe dehydration and death. A major problem in sub-Saharan Africa, outbreaks have occurred in nine countries in 2009. In Zimbabwe alone, more than 90,000 people have been infected, and over 4,000 have died since August 2008.
Cholera prevention is as simple as boiling all water and thoroughly cooking foods. It can be treated with liquids and, in extreme cases, intravenous fluids. Increased knowledge and presence of infrastructure will contribute to preventing thousands of deaths each year.
