Sunday, May 13, 2007

Brucellosis and other strange disesase

This morning I learned that I cook who had to be evacuated doesn't just have a bad headache like he told me. He has Typhoid and brucellosis!

This is what the Center for Disease Control says about Typhoid:

"Salmonella Typhi lives only in humans. Persons with typhoid fever carry the bacteria in their bloodstream and intestinal tract. In addition, a small number of persons, called carriers , recover from typhoid fever but continue to carry the bacteria. Both ill persons and carriers shed S. Typhi in their feces (stool). "

You can get typhoid fever if you eat food or drink beverages that have been handled by a person who is shedding S. Typhi or if sewage contaminated with S. Typhi bacteria gets into the water you use for drinking or washing food. Therefore, typhoid fever is more common in areas of the world where handwashing is less frequent and water is likely to be contaminated with sewage.

Once S. Typhi bacteria are eaten or drunk, they multiply and spread into the bloodstream. The body reacts with fever and other signs and symptoms."

Then, I had to find out what this weird disease brucellosis is which I had never heard of before today:

"Humans are generally infected in one of three ways: eating or drinking something that is contaminated with Brucella, breathing in the organism (inhalation), or having the bacteria enter the body through skin wounds. The most common way to be infected is by eating or drinking contaminated milk products. When sheep, goats, cows, or camels are infected, their milk is contaminated with the bacteria."


That's great, he has two diseases that are spread through food and he is the one preparing our food! Let's all pray that this doesn't start an outbreak in our camp and that my immune system can handle it. Now not only do I have to worry about the mosquito bites giving me malaria I also have to worry about the food I eat giving me typhoid and brucellosis- and God knows what else is floating around here.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It was so great to talk to you last week. Hang in there and stay strong! -Ash

Anonymous said...

that is the second person i have heard of in the past few weeks who contracted brucellosis in southern sudan.

keep healthy.

sounds like it is time for a little r&r, perhaps that is why you need to take it. can't wait to see you.

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