Cholera

Fieldset

Cholera

Cholera is a disease caused by a bacterial infection of the intestine. The bacterium causes the lining of the intestine to produce large amounts of fluid, causing acute diarrhoea and vomiting.

Untreated, this can cause death by intense dehydration, sometimes within a matter of hours. However, treatment is simple and, if the disease is caught early enough, highly effective.

Outbreaks of cholera often happen where there is inadequate access to clean water, rubbish collection and toilets. This means MSF logisticians and water and sanitation specialists play a vital role in preventing cholera outbreaks in the areas where we work.

مبيعه عاصي

Epidemiologist

Yemen: An epidemiologist without borders

What is an epidemiologist, and how can they help an emergency medical organisation like Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF)? Moubadda blogs from Jordan…

02 Jul 2018 / 4 minute read

Ida Moberg

Doctor

South Kivu: Dealing with conflict and cholera

After an eventful arrival at a remote hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr Ida Moberg faces more unexpected challenges. Living in a community under the threat of gunfire, Ida takes on a strained children's ward and an 11-year-old patient with suspected cholera.

15 Feb 2018 / 4 minute read

Antonia Zemp

Nurse

Cholera in Yemen: "Ali is fighting for his life"

Antonia Zemp has been a nurse in MSF's emergency team since 2015, working in the most urgent emergencies and crises. She recently returned from her latest assignment in Yemen, where she's been part of the response to the cholera outbreak there...

20 Jul 2017 / 5 minute read