5-30 Project Progress

So, we're pretty much ready to start building. Ryan's blog (rglasheen.blogspot.com) is pretty much our project, save for some small changes. We're going to have one fishtank symbolize a developed water infrastructure. A barrier will represent a filter. The barrier will prevent ping pong balls, cholera, from getting into the water supply system. This demonstrates how advanced countries don't have cholera outbreaks, because the water isn't contaminated, and when it is, it is quickly filtered out. Contruction will start soon. As soon as we have something to show, we'll all post some pictures.

Alright, Ryan's latest blogposts are of interest. He's talked about how countries can't help their citizens, because they don't have enough money to even make their citizens aware. But this isn't true. If Edward's blog is to be trusted, (edpaje.blogspot.com), then Angola has enough money to at least get its citizens aware of cholera. Angola has experience great economical growth, and it's a shame that its citizens are suffering from a preventable disease. Our project focuses on this, and why Angola continues to suffer from cholera.

Stay tuned for more updates on cholera and the project.

Tuesday Update

So, a large mistake on my part. I've talked about cholera, why it happens, what should be done about, a lot of my opinion. But I haven't given a definitive definition of cholera. This is what I hope this blog post does.

World Health Organization's site on cholera
http://www.who.int/cholera/en/

Department of Health and Human Services site on cholera
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/cholera_g.htm

I've used these sites before, but I feel I should make a definitive post on Cholera. Cholera can be spread around by contaminated water. Cholera thrives in humid conditions, and whenever someone drinks contaminated water, or comes in contact with it, they can contract cholera. This is why countries like the US, with filtration systems and an advanced water infrastructure rarely has cholera cases. On the other side of the world, Angola, with it's lack of clean water supply suffers from outbreaks. This is what the project's main focal point will be. It's changed drastically, and it isn't a model of cholera anymore, but more on this later.

Once Cholera gets into the system, it gets to work. Cholera makes the body release all its bodily fluids, causing diarrea. It dehydrates the person, which is why it's important to replenish the fluids lost. Eventually, cholera goes away, like the flu. Antibiotics exist only to lessen the impact of cholera.

For tommorow, expect info on the project, and commentary on my partners' blogs. So check back tommorow. Thanks.

Weekend Update

Reading up on what WHO does to combat cholera was interesting. They have a group called the "Global Task Force on Cholera Control". It was launched in 1992 and ever since has been working on preventing cholera, and providing aid for those with cholera. They also work to control outbreaks, when they do happen. Also, they provide vaccines, to those visiting places where cholera is prevalent. But the question here is: Why is it that cholera continues to be a huge problem in some nations even though organizations like the Global Taks Force are doing everything in their power to stop it? There are many answers to this question, but my belief is that organizations can't do anything by themselves.

They need the help of the main populace, to spread the knowledge of cholera. I read a lot about the task force providing support to those with the disease, I read about the training of medical professionals to deal with the disease but I read very little about spreading awareness of the disease to the people there. What these organizations are doing is good and all, but to be truly effective the disease must not be waiting for it to happen and take action, but strike before. I know I've covered this before but spreading the knowledge is important. Simple facts, such as boiling water before drinking it could avoid cholera outbreaks, and save thousands of lives. This is the cheap solution that I asked for before. Spreading the knowledge is cheaper, and more efficient, than training medical personnel and developing treatments.

On a side note, I found out some more about the treatments. Several treatments exist, as antibiotics. They are seldom used, but can shorten the duration and severity of cholera. Replenishing the lost liquids seems like the sure fire way to survive cholera. This makes treating cholera simple, which confounds me. Cholera should be gone by now, if the treatment is just replacing the liquids.

Well, my longest post yet. Check back soon for my next post, which should provide details on the project, and further dissect my partners' thoughts.

Thursday Update

No update on Wednesday, I was too busy hammering out our project idea. We're going to create a simple simulation of the human digestive system. It will be able to simulate Cholera and simulate the cholera treatment. It will also contain a lot of information on cholera itself, why it happens, where it happens, what can be done about it, all the good stuff. More updates on the project as they come.

As for cholera, Edward's question on who's to blame for Cholera in Africa is tricky. I believe that it is the African governments' fault for not educating its citizens about the disease. It was covered in a former post that education could be the first step in preventing the further spread of cholera. Also, the US should not be blamed for not helping. It has no reason for it to be in places like Angola, treating the ill. There are already international organizations like WHO working to stop cholera in Africa.

For the next post, I'll update on more specifics of the project, and provide an outline. Also, I'll find out what it is that organizations are doing to prevent Cholera from spreading in Africa.

Tuesday Update

edpaje.blogspot.com
rglasheen.blogspot.com
http://www.infoplease.com/cig/dangerous-diseases-epidemics/cholera-scourge-poor.html

Looking over my partner's research is interesting. We share similar opinions on Cholera. If it's fatal then why is it ignored? What can be done to prevent Cholera in these nations? Is there a cheap alternative? All these questions come to mind when there are Cholera outbreaks every year in these undeveloped nations. There were over 10,000 deaths in Africa alone, in the year 1991. Cholera can be taken care of, but without the proper medical care, Cholera can be fatal.

Furthermore, my partners and I tend to look at Africa as victim of Cholera. Cholera outbreaks are still common in Africa. Because of unsanitary conditions and a weak medical system, Africa has had many Cholera outbreaks. In conclusion, I think that it would be a good idea to focus on Africa for this project.

Monday Update

Update on my earlier question. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotics can be used to lessen the impact of Cholera, but doesn't get rid of it altogether. The treatment for Cholera is just replenishing the liquid lost with a special solution, designed to replace the sugars and salts lost. So, Cholera seems to just go away after some time. For tommorow I'll check this up in another site.

Furthermore, for a project, I think we should do a model of what Cholera does to the human body. The project could also demonstrate the treatment, and answer the essential question.

The image makes me think about the regions affected by the disease. This image from WHO answers the essential question. Angola, Africa is still suffering from a large amount of Cholera cases. While in Asia and South America numbers are going down, outbreaks of Cholera occur frequently in Angola. The dry climate, lack of decent medical care and unsanitary conditions contribute to the Cholera problem. Focusing on Angola could prove beneficial for the project.

Weekend Research

http://www.who.int/cholera/en/
http://www.who.int/topics/cholera/en/index.html

WHO is a good place to find recent info on outbreaks for Cholera. It has a lot of info on Cholera itself as well. It goes over statistics and outbreaks as well. It looks helpful and frequently updated. I think it's a dependable source, and this info could come in handy for the project. The fact that Cholera is present in 3rd world countries, and is much more deadly in arid places is important The Cholera Outbreaks in arid areas could be relevant to the essential question. Unsanitary conditions could make Cholera spread easily, and the lack of water resources could make Cholera deadly in some arid areas.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/cholera_g.htm

Goes over Cholera again, but also goes over what the US government is doing to prevent Cholera. We could use this information to answer our essential question. Also goes over the treatment of Cholera. However, the solution for cholera seems to be keeping hydrated. Does the Cholera go away? Or is there medicinal treatment for it? I'll look into this, and my next post should address this question.

I recommend you read both, to brush up on general Cholera info. This will prepare you for project ideas.

Joe Rubio: Blog Get

The blog's been created, it will be regularly updated with progress on the Plague of Circumstance.