There still are occasional Cholera outbreaks when water supplies become contamin

Question

There still are occasional Cholera outbreaks when water supplies become contaminated by improper sanitation or after disasters disrupt normal water supplies. There even are occasional cases in the U.S., some from contaminated, imported foods. The minority of cholera bacteria,Vibrio cholera, that survive stomach acid bind to the plasma membranes of cells in the small intestine and release a toxic protein that does two things to plasm membranes. First, the protein blocks the sodium pump. Second, it opens chloride channels in the membranes. As a consequence, both sodium and chloride are released from cells into intestine. Osmosis then causes water to be pulled out of the body cells and into the intestine. Osmosis then causes water to be pulled out of the body cells and into the intestine, resulting in severe diarrhea and dehydration. There is a simple treatment for cholera that can prevent most deaths. What do you think it might be?

Explanation / Answer

Cholera is treated using oral rehydration therapy (ort). A basic oral rehydration therapy solution is composed of: 30 ml (6 level tsp) of sugar 2.5 ml (1/2 level tsp) of salt, dissolved into 1 litre (4.25 Cups) of clean water This simply replenishes the fluid and salts lost until antibiotics can be started.

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