NEW RISKS FOR DISASTER WORK AND SURVIVORS:CHOLERA AND TYPHOID

DAY 8 KATRINA DISASTER:
CRITICAL READ FOR RESPONDERS AND REPORTERS!!!!
[[[PLEASE NOTE AS OF SEPT 7,2005 WE HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THE INIATIAL 5 INFECTED ARE NOW DEAD FROM THE CHOLERA, I CAN NOT AGREE AS A NURSE WITH THE ASSESSMENT BY DR.HEALY THAT IT IS A "BENIGN" KIND OF CHOLERA.]]]]

Tonight a New danger has been raised for the Responders and Reporters in the Disaster Zone.Cholera, has shown up in 5 survivors, as of 8pm no information has been given on their condition or status. There was a bit of information given by some government doctor on Larry King on CNN. She stated that it was not a" dangerous "form. I question this statement, there are no Benign forms of this disorder, especially when we all know that 1000's of people were and are being exposed to the Toxic Cesspool in NOLA. And the people that are now suffering from it came down with it under dire circumstances. And now they are being dispersed to multiple states in 100's of shelters without accessto proper healthcare. Many should be in hospital and recieving IV fluids and medical care. Especially the ones that are now weakened and are now the walking wounded, these folks over the next weeks need very close observation and care. They are are at risk of Hep A, and Cholera and Typhoid, and E.coli. All because they were exposed to tons of sewage and had no access to hygeine conditions or sanitary toilets. Not having a place to wash hands litterally will and has placed these folks in line for a whole unanticipated challenge.

( and Corpses floating and Decomposing in the Toxic Cesspool is VERY much a prescription for disaster.period)

They should all be on prophylactic broad spectrum antibiotics- CIPRO- the government has it stockpiled. If you are working in the area-please make sure to go on this prophylactically.They also should be given Typhoid Vaccines NOW and also Hepatitis A vaccines. And now the walking wounded are all over the Country and many of these people have NOT had FULL assessments,evaluation and medical care ( blood work, stool samples).They have had basic Rushed Triage Move-em-out Shuffle assessments- that is not the same thing as a thorough head to toe assessment. And now the surviving children are starting school in schools all over the country- this is a set up for a Huge Health Crisis. I have not seen ANY DHHS explain this lack of mass health monitoring program.These Survivors are refugees and International Law does require that they recieve better care and monitoring than this haphazard shuffle. Houston has been wonderful about having 230,000 new residents, and a better plan would also protect all their generous community.

THE CHILDREN STARTING IN NEW SCHOOLS IN NEW AREAS COULD HAVE BEEN STARTED ON
2 WEEKS OF ANTIBIOTICS AND ALSO GIVEN TYPHOID AND HEPATITIS A VACCINES.
( as well as HEPATITIS B, AND TETANUS) They also should have been allowed atleast a few days to regroup with their families recover for their trauma and recieve rest, nutrition, and TLC. And they should be monintored for atleast a week to monitor for fevers and intestinal symptoms.

I don't mean to be a Doomsayer- but cholera if comes up in people that are malnourished and starved and dehydrated left out exposed in the Cesspool of Multiple Bacteriae, and multiple virulent organisms. This is a Toxic Roap Map for an Imminent Health Care Crisis.

IF YOU ARE WORKING IN A SHELTER REMEMBER THE ELDERLY, IMMUNE COMPROMISED, AND PREGNENT WOMEN, AND BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN ARE AT INCREDIBLE RISK.

PEOPLE IN THE ZONE MUST BE PROTECTED- GLOVES, MASKS, AND PROPER SANITATION SUPPLIES AND PROTECTIVE WEAR.PLEASE PLEASE READ PREVIOUS POST ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PROTECTION KITS ARE NEEDED. STAT....
ATLEAST CARRY BLEACH AND GLOVES.

(1) Cholera is an Invisible Danger, it comes on VERY quickly, it is PAINLESS, and that is different
than Dysentary, because dysentary is VERY painful. Both need IV fluids immediately. Cholera is treatable
but must be treated with antibiotics Immediately. Until You get the person care- give them gatorade
and jello- mix with water- and have the person drink, the elctrolyte imbalance situation can be serious quickly
The watery diahrrea can dehydrate a person quickly,especially ones that are already dehydrated before it hits.
Also carry salt tablets. ( gatorade and pedialyte ) Pedialyte is critcal for kids, but also is good with the elderly.
This does need Hospitalization Period.These folks also can not be in large shelter, or community shelter.It poses
mass risk. **** PROTECTION IS CRITCAL:EYEWEAR, MASKS, GLOVES, ETC. Risk by inhale, mucous membrane exposure, of eyes, mouth and also skin.****

(2) Typhoid: Risk number two. If you are seeing cholera- it is only a matter of time before Typhoid appears. Typhoid actually is caused by Salmonella. It has painful urination, pain in joints and back, it quickly has painful intestinal cramping, bleeding,
and bloody stools. It is treatable with fluids and medication, but it requires immediate in hospital care.

(3) E.coli: This Infection also needs immediate IV fluids and antibiotics and hospital care. Sadly it has symptoms that are very similair to other intestinal infections, but is deadly to children and infants if untreated.
*****THE BOTTEM LINE ALL THOSE SURVIVORS THAT COME DOWN WITH ANY GI SYMPTOMS ARE IN NEED OF MEDICAL
CARE AND ACCESS TO IV FLUIDS AND IV MEDS.******
****** AND RESPONDERS / REPORTERS THAT GET SICK NEED TO BE CHECKED IMMEDIATELY AS WELL*************

{{{{{ Is it advisable to be puming this "water" into the lake unfiltered and untreated into the Lake. Are the even the Army Corp.
of Engineers workers are protected, they are not wearing masks, sturdy gloves.etc. }}}}