Cholera in New York Sparks Fear of Outbreak (Edit)

By Harrison Golden

In the wake of an ongoing cholera epidemic in Haiti that has killed thousands of people, three cases of the disease were reported in New York this month, leaving many city residents and health officials fearful of local and regional outbreaks.

According to Candace Burns Hoffman, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control, the three known infected individuals contracted cholera last month after attending a 500-guest wedding in the Casa de Campo resort, located in the nearby Dominican Republic. Their names and identities have not been released to the public, though they have since recovered from the disease without hospitalization and are not considered to be posing any significant public health threat. However, public health officials still urge citizens to remain aware of the infectious bacteria and its capabilities to still emerge within the city, even in the most obscure of areas.

“It’s definitely something we should be keeping a close eye on,” said Dr. Michael Phillips, member of the New York City Board of Health and an assistant professor for the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at New York University. “Right now, it seems under control with these three, but infections can often surprise us. But by simply containing it, taking precautions, and hoping for the best, we are greatly reducing our chances of contracting the disease.”

Cholera is a water-borne bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea, dehydration, and vomiting. The last major American outbreak of the disease took place in 1911, and through modern reconstruction of pipes and sewer systems, its presence has not been significantly felt within the nation since then. However, if not treated, or if treated poorly, patients suffering from it can still succumb to its effects within a few hours, regardless of location. Those treated in both a timely manner and with adequate mixtures of antibiotics, water, sugars, and salts face a generally decent prognosis and exhibit less of a threat to public health.

Dr. Edward Ryan, author of “The Cholera Pandemic, Still With Us After Half A Century,” acknowledges that, following last January’s massive earthquake that left hundreds of thousands dead, injured, and homeless, Haiti’s sewage systems and medical facilities have fallen behind in efficiency. With these factors, Ryan argues, the region has gradually become more vulnerable to widespread exposure to the disease. Health care workers, including local doctors and nurses, were initially forced to address the immediate issues regarding the earthquake’s victims. As such, many of these professionals have been left overwhelmed with work and forced to turn down patients, which has since resulted in many once-uncommon illnesses gradually resurfacing as a result of this lack of widespread medical attention.

Infrastructure erosion has also caused the disease to spread throughout Haiti. Pipes and sewage systems were destroyed as a result of the earthquake, leaving many vulnerable to infection.

In an effort to prevent from getting infected with cholera, the CDC recommends taking such precautions as avoiding raw food, boiling uncooked foods, washing hands with soap, and avoiding swimming or bathing in rivers.

“For the most part, the chances of getting cholera and spreading it around in a structurally elaborate city like New York is slim to none,” said Dr. William Polf, Senior Vice President of Public Relations at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. “But we must constantly analyze how things evolve. New strains of diseases develop constantly, so people of all ages must work to take care of themselves. Right now, examining all the factors and seeing what we have, we think people can feel hopeful.”