Looming Cholera Threat

The recent outbreak of cholera in the Kathmandu Valley and outside points to an emerging public health threat of water-borne diseases. The resurfacing of cholera could be a cause for alert for the healthcare system which calls for taking immediate precautionary measures. With more than 15 cases confirmed in just a week, communities are at risk of contagious disease. Cholera is a deadly communicable disease, potentially fatal for half of those infected if left untreated. Its symptoms extend beyond severe diarrhoea, including stomach constriction, leg cramps, fatigue, vomiting, intense thirst, dry skin, and low blood pressure. It can quickly spread in places where there is water and food contamination, such as densely populated urban areas and slums.