Deadly Diseases

Cholera

Caused by a water-borne bacterial infection, cholera is transmitted through contaminated food or water, or through contact with fecal matter or vomit from infected people. A patient can lose up to 25 litres of fluid per day. Cholera can cause severe diarrhoea and vomiting, and rapidly prove fatal, within hours, if not treated. But cholera is very simple to treat – most patients respond well to oral rehydration salts, which are easy to administer. In more serious cases, intravenous fluids are required. Ultimately, no-one should die of cholera - yet well over 100,000 do each year.

 

WHAT IS CHOLERA?

 

INTERACTIVE: CHOLERA TREATMENT

 

DOWNLOAD: TREATMENT POSTER

 

Ebola

Ebola is a highly contagious viral disease with an incubation period of up to 21 days. The disease is transmitted from person to person via bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, saliva or tears. Those diagnosed with the Ebola virus suffer severe diarrhoea, vomiting and bleeding, which can lead to severe dehydration, and ultimately organ failure and death.

Médecins Sans Frontières has a long history responding to outbreaks of Ebola in countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. 

Médecins Sans Frontières has intervened in almost all reported outbreaks over the past years.

 

WHAT IS EBOLA?

 

DOWNLOAD: EBOLA TREATMENT