Diseases that follow natural disasters cause more deaths than the catastrophe itself with water supplies quickly becoming contaminated by human and animal excrement. Thailand has recently experienced historical flooding after months of monsoon rain, which has left two out of the three landfills submerged, thereby causing contamination of water supplies and rice fields as garbage floats through the streets. This.... Read Full Article >
Forecasting Global Cholera Outbreaks
Global cholera outbreaks, due to water or food contaminated with Vibrio cholerae, affect 3-5 million people each year with an estimated 100,000-130,000 deaths. Cholera outbreaks are increasing, particularly in Haiti where more than 320,000 cases have been reported, resulting in 5,000 deaths since October 2010. Prior to the devastating earthquake, Haiti had been free of this debilitating disease for more than 100.... Read Full Article >