Cholera Anyone?

C. Allen Thompson

Telophase II Member

C. Allen Thompson is a freelance writer, radio personality, musician, blogger, and fellow professional heretic from Minneapolis, MN.  He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and Medical Institute of Minnesota (Argosy University) with degrees in Sociology, Psychology, and Evolutionary Biology.  He is the author of Crusade: The Unchecked and Unbalanced Role of Faith in America, which is available in paperback at Amazon.com and is available for Nook, Nook Color, Nook for iPhone, Nook for PC, Nook for Android, and more, at barnesandnoble.com

CHOLERA ANYONE?
In my early years, I had a fetish with studying infections, namely those that have made an indelible mark in the history books of our young species.  Cholera is one of those, and is, in fact, still making its rounds.  In 2004, an outbreak of Cholera in India killed hundreds, but was almost nothing compared to the outbreak in Haiti in 2010.  In 2011, however, Cholera has made a reappearance on the shores of the US.  It has just been announced, in fact, by the USFDA, that at least 11 people in Louisiana have been diagnosed with the infection, and the cause seems to be (as expected) seafood from the Gulf of Mexico.

Not surprising, really, that in this day and age, Cholera can easily be treated, with its mortality rate being far less than 1% of caught in time.  However, Cholera left untreated has a much higher mortality rate, in the area of 50-60%.  All the more reasons for natural and raw food eaters like myself to stay scarce of seafood from the gulf for a while, or at least it's reason enough to cook our oysters and mussels no matter their origin.

What is Cholera, exactly?
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is brought on by Vibrio (gamma subdivision of the Proetobacteria) cholerae, which is a gram negative, comma shaped bacterium.  Obviously, the infection can occur after exposure to contaminated drinking water or food.  It has been known to cause both electrolyte imbalance as well as rapid dehydration from the often painful diarrhea and vomiting brought on by the infection (isn't science fun?).

Thus far, the reported cases are few, but it certainly gives us more than enough reasons to be very aware of the origin of our foods, as well as reason to make sure we're properly cooking what we eat.  Those of us outside the area obviously have no reason to start boiling our water and living off of Spam quite yet, but if the outbreak continues, it is sure to spread very quickly.