What causes the blue death nickname for cholera?
The skin turns bluish-gray from extreme dehydration, earning cholera the nickname blue death. This discoloration results from massive fluid loss of up to six liters per day through intestinal cells.
Questions about Cholera
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the first cholera pandemic start and where?
The first pandemic started in the Bengal region near Calcutta and spread to Southeast Asia, Europe, and Eastern Africa. It began in 1817 and caused more than one million deaths in Russia alone between 1847 and 1851.
How does Vibrio cholerae survive outside human bodies?
Vibrio cholerae exists outside the human body in natural water sources interacting with phytoplankton and zooplankton. Shellfish living in affected waterways accumulate the pathogen when they eat contaminated zooplankton.
Who is considered the Father of Epidemiology and what did he discover?
John Snow investigated the 1854 London epidemic and found a link between cholera and contaminated drinking water. His map of cases around the Broad Street pump became the first recorded instance of epidemiological tracking.
What solution was formulated by Hemendra Nath Chatterjee in 1953?
Hemendra Nath Chatterjee formulated the fluid replacement solution in 1953 using sodium chloride, glucose, and water. This oral rehydration therapy uses slightly sweet and salty solutions to replace fluids lost through diarrhea.