Malaysia, oh Malaysia… What have we gotten ourselves into now?
Water is often a cause of frustration in the country, causing us never-ending dilemmas. The latest problem? The Health Director of Selangor revealed yesterday that a resident of Petaling district, Selangor, had tested positive for the bacterial infection. Cholera is contracted and spread mainly through drinking contaminated water.
According to the New Straits Times, a circular on the health emergency was issued on November 12th to all hospitals and district health clinics statewide.
Cholera is an intestinal disease caused by the Vibrio Cholerae bacteria, according to the circular. The disease’s early signs include painless watery diarrhea and vomiting, and if left untreated, can lead to dehydration, circulatory collapse, and death.
As mentioned earlier, cholera can be contracted by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. The source of contamination in an outbreak is typically the excrement of an infected person, which contaminates water or food. In locations where sewage and drinking water are not properly treated, the disease can spread quickly.
To prevent this outbreak from spreading, please wash your hands before eating, eat cooked food and refrain from consuming raw food, and ONLY DRINK BOILED WATER!
This disease, which is also airborne, caused about 600 deaths during an outbreak in 1984. The bacteria can be spread through water vapor due to poor sanitization. PLEASE DON’T TAKE MATTERS LIGHTLY
