It is the natural instinct of all animals to breed, grow and survive. Bacteria are no different; in fact it is probably they, in the distant past when they first evolved, started the whole natural selection process. So are they initiating the diarrhea process to be released as quickly as possible in order to survive? It is known that Vibrio cholerae (causing cholera) are responsible for causing an ionic imbalance in the colon, resulting in excessive fluid being drawn from the body's cells and bloodstream to mix with the feces, causing profuse, watery diarrhea.
The loss of fluids from vomiting and diarrhea, and in some cases perspiration through fever, can cause dehydration, which is life threatening. The body must have a constant supply of liquid, without which we would die. Water is classed as a major nutrient, not because it supplies macro or micro nutrients, but because it supplies the conditions in which all cellular processes are undertaken, in an aqueous environment. Apart from the cellular processes, all internal organs and blood require this constant supply. Dehydration is not such a problem in developed countries. People can be supplied with potable water from a mains, chlorinated supply or bottled water. Pop, squash, tea, coffee can also be used in the re-hydration process. (Not alcohol as this causes dehydration).
In developing countries, where there is no chlorinated supply or perhaps just water supplied by wells. The water might be infected (from feces or decaying animal/vegetable matter in the supply. If a person is suffering from vomiting or diarrhea and they are provided with water, which is infected, it will exacerbate the situation.
Natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods also pose a major poisoning hazard. In this situation, water and sewage supplies mix and cause contamination.
On the 23rd July 2007, Tewkesbury, UK, suffered the worst flood it had ever encountered. The flood water raised the sewage supply to come into contact with the mains water supply. Sewage was also present in the flood water flowing through the town. Floods also cause wild animals to drown, which subsequently decompose and infect the water. The British government were providing up to 3 million litres of fresh bottled water a day to prevent poisoning.
On August 29th, 2005, 1836 people died in Louisiana due to hurricane Katrina. Many people died in the aftermath due to Food-borne diseases. The US government were also transporting fresh water to the area to prevent disease.
It is a little known statistic that 50 times more people will be affected by Foodborne diseases than the number of people that die as a direct result of the disaster if adequate supplies of clean water cannot be provided.
Where large groups of people congregate, without adequate sanitation, Foodborne diseases are a major problem. The movement of people through wars and immigration has caused and still causes mass infection.
Until the 20th Century, more soldiers died from infectious diseases, such as Foodborne diseases, than of their battle wounds. In the American Civil War (1861-1865) dysentery and typhoid killed twice as many soldiers that died in the fighting. During the second Boer War (1899-1902) 13,000 soldiers died from typhoid, 8,000 were killed by the war.
Between 1979 and 1989, Russia waged war on Afghanistan. 88% of the Russian soldiers during that time suffered from Foodborne diseases such as typhoid. It is thought that the lack of sanitation was a major factor for the diseases and it was the illnesses that eventually lost Russia the war.
Bacteria, friend or foe? From my evidence you can see they are both. Without bacteria we would die. With bacteria we are dying. Thankfully there are more good bacteria than pathogens. But pathogens do pose a serious health problem, whether through contaminated food or lack of adequate sanitation. It was not until first half of the twentieth century that public health strategies were introduced and sanitation was prioritised to ensure these diseases were reduced. It was about 1908, for example, that the USA introduced its first continuous municipal use of chlorinated water. It appears that bacteria were here before us and will be here after we are gone (if we do ever leave!)
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