Our World

Cholera spreads throughout Latin America

I thought that this article was very interesting, and related to what we have been talking about in class. This article talks about the how Cholera, a bacteria associated from human feces, is spreading in Latin America. This bacteria is a wake up call for much of Latin America to better the water there. Thousands of millions of people are dieing, but they can do much because there's no money to improve the sanitation. This disease is spreading,and though out many countries including Peru and many others. These countries are in such high poverty that there is no other place to put their waste ,other than letting it sit there. Instead people are dumping human waste into the seas and rivers, which is causing these diseases, and killing many people.

This disease Cholera is a bacteria that is from human waste or feces. It can kill with in a day with no medicine, or can be treated but only with top of the line drugs.(probably only found in top of the line hospitals.) Already in Peru, 1,140 people have died, and if they do nothing about Cholera the disease could sicken up to 3 millions Brazilian people. It was interesting to learn some of the statistics for this bacteria, which states that 40% of Lima's 7 million people don't have access to piped water. 40% of Brazillians 150 million people don't have access to sewers. Washing hands and boiling water are easy ways to prevent you from getting this disease, but to some people a stove is not always available.


Cholera traditionally was found in Europe and was a disease 2nd or 3rd class people used to get because of the polluted water they had to drink. This Cholera started a large scare in mostly Paris and London, causing people to buy all bottled water. But people were still getting sick because you would never think that the water you wash your hands in, or the water you use to brush your teeth could affect you so much. But with all the new advancements this bacteria has slowly decrease, and today there is very little threat.

I thought that this article brought up an excellent point that the sanitation in many countries need to improved. I also thought that the all the facts about the poverty in Peru and other countries was incredible, I never new how many people didn't have the simple things like a toilet for example.

posted by Anonymous @ 10/12/2006 10:42:00 PM