Typhoid and Cholera?

Back to Katrina-blogging: Effect Measure distinguishes the real public health risks from the phantoms.

Comments

[sulla]

Thanks for that link. I've been wondering about all the statements regarding those two diseases. Apparently the media believe in spontaneous generation of organisms.

[Warren]

"We do not have endemic malaria, at least not at this point (global warming might change that, of course)."

Rimshot!

[Jennifer]

I thought they were just using "cholera" as a sort of shorthand for "diarrhea from bad water."

[Shannon Love]

I kept wondering why the media kept talking about this. I thought perhaps they knew something I didn't.

Turns out it was just their run-of-mill incompetence.

[Jennifer]

Something just occurred to me: how long could a typhoid or cholera germ survive in a dead body? Is it like a mold spore, which could theoretically last indefinitely? I'm just wondering about the slight possibility of people in the cemeteries, who died of various infectious diseases and whose bodies are now most likely floating through the city somewhere, infecting those still alive.

But if I were in New Orleans, the thought of germs in the water wouldn't worry me so much as the thought of gasoline and oil and other toxic substances in the water.

[Isaac Bartram]

Jennifer

You can get some really nasty infections from that water. And that's without even having any open wounds.

But I too wondered about the "dead bodies" thing. After the tsunami any one who knew anything was all over that one. Pretty much that there was not much to worry about and there were lots more important things to worry about.

[Jesse Walker]

Turns out it was just their run-of-mill incompetence.

Fueled, in this case, by the incompetence of Secretary Leavitt.

[Jennifer]

No, Isaac, I wasn't asking about the bodies of those who died from the hurricane, but those who died long, long before and were interred--I can't say buried--aboveground in the cemeteries there. In other words--if you die of cholera or typhoid, what's the longest your dead body could remain a danger to others?

[Isaac Bartram]

Now that I don't know. I do know that many of today's burial regulations originated in the 19th century when officials were concerned with things like groundwater contamination from disease organisms like cholera. How well-founded that fear was I know not.

[Isaac Bartram]

Though I would think embalming fluid and a thorough washing of the body wil take care of most disease organisms so I doubt that old buried bodies are much of a problem.

I noticed in an interview with the guy supervising the temporary morgue for NO that the first thing the bodies will get on arrival is a chlorine rinse. But I think that is for the protection of the various workers who will be somewhat closely engaged with them.

[Ironchef]

All I can do is picture this conversation.

A hurricane's comin' - Get out.
No.
Seriously. A hurricane's comin' Leave now.
Pshaw.
Once more, with feeling. Get yer ass gone now.
Pish Posh. Poppycock.
(hurricane comes)
Get me the fuck outta here!
We told you. Now, listen close. Cholera's comin' - Get out.
K then. (Note to self - always listen to the government)
muahahah Next time we alarm you, you best listen up.

[Tom Crick]

So what about cooties? ...What? Now you're gonna tell me that there's no danger from cooties?

...Yeah right.

[cynical bastard]

Jennifer - it can't. IIRC from my gen micro class, cholera vibrio (Vibrio cholerae, to be precise, although true species status is a subject to debate) is actually a pretty fragile critter that requires fairly alkaline conditions (hence, traditional use of acids to treat cholera). Now, if there was a latent carrier in N'awlins (not impossible) AND he released bugs into water (highly likely) AND the conditions are right (quite possible), then the bugs could multiply and possibly infect more people, making the process self-perpetuating. Cholera survival in dead bodies - beats me. Doubt it is of major significance, as cholera vibrio does not form tough resting phase (spores) like Bacillis anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. Now, THAT one is a tough one - Brits experimented with it on a certain island in WWII, and the island is still contagious, despite several firebombings.

[Jennifer]

CB--

Is typhoid longevity more akin to cholera, or anthrax?

[Jennifer]

CNN's headline says there's an E. coli outbreak down there now.

[cynical bastard]

Jennifer - as far as I recall, all enteric pathogens, including typhoid (caused by Salmonella typhi) and cholera, are gram negative (can't think of one gram positive off the top of my head - then again, I am not a medical microbiologist), and thus are pretty fragile - in fact, Salmonella can't multiply (or so CDC sez) in the environment, being, in that sense, more fragile than cholera vibrio. In the nutshell, while old corpses washing up may be a disgusting sight, epidemiological danger stems from fresh sewage, rather than anything else.

And Escherichia coli is NOT a pathogen (unless we are talking about VERY specific strains), but rather a convenient indicator of fecal pollution, as it is about as fragile as regular enteric pathogens and is easy to track.

...Just passing my time until classes resume next Monday...