Response Team Problems

Cholera The following is a response to a major disaster in the Asian coastal country of Bangladesh. A major and destructive typhoon has recently hit the country and there are significant problems. The result of this typhoon has seem massive death, destruction and population displacement, and to worsen the situation, data indicates that cases of a diarrheal disease consistent with cholera have been reported. This essay will highlight the priorities of work that need to be addressed in order to respond to the cholera outbreak that appears imminent.

This response will recommend certain actions that need to be implemented and which agencies to seek assistance from to help in making the plan work. Pre-deployment preparations for those flocking to the disaster will also be discussed to give a more descriptive form to the problem. Impacts of Cholera Outbreaks It is important and preliminary to understand the problems and risks associated with an cholera outbreak. To know the enemy in this fight is invaluable to creating an effective and efficient strategy to combat the ill effects.

The World Health Organization provides some enlightening guidance in their reports such an occurrence. The report stated "The potential impact of communicable diseases is often presumed to be very high in the chaos that follows natural disasters. Increases in endemic diseases and the risk of outbreaks however, are dependent upon many factors that must be systematically evaluated with comprehensive risk assessment. This allows the prioritization of interventions to reduce the impact of communicable diseases post disaster. " Although this advice is general in nature, it is wise.

Since the individual circumstances of each type of outbreak are unique, there can be no substitute for experience in these matters. It is therefore prudent to call upon those who have handled such a situation before and can apply their expertise in a fine and purposeful manner. This organization should concentrate on delegating the many responsibilities that accompany such a response. Putting together a team requires addressing the problem from all known angles.

Obvious medical and front treatment units are obvious, but other logistical resources many not be as readily noticeable. In a recent outbreak in Haiti, where many similar circumstances concerning demographics and socio-economic status are very similar to Bangladesh, many different organizations contributed to that cholera outbreak and would provide an excellent source of knowledge in delivering some relief. Tappero & Tauxe (2011) revealed some important lessons in this outbreak and suggested improvements for the next opportunity.

The wrote "After epidemic cholera emerged in Haiti in October 2010, the disease spread rapidly in a country devastated by an earthquake earlier that year, in a population with a high proportion of infant deaths, poor nutrition, and frequent infectious diseases such as HIV infection, tuberculosis, and malaria. Many nations, multinational agencies, and nongovernmental organizations rapidly mobilized to assist Haiti. The U.S. government provided emergency response through the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S.

Agency for International Development and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." Potential Problems Infectious diseases are problematic for responders due to the nature of the situation. Responders should always be in great physical and mental health, as the tasks they are to perform are very stressful and require strength and concentration in extremely hazardous and chaotic situations. Immune systems are already at risk for these units of assistance and approaching these types of humanitarian efforts should be treated with the utmost respect.

Stress and complicated situations are no doubt to arise when attempting to thwart infectious disease pandemics. Cholera is not as dangerous as other disesases and can be prevented with some simple technologies and medicine. The actual treatment of the people that need help is where much of the stress can develop. Desperate people clinging to life will often act irrationally and with vigor to preserve their own existence. The.