December 13, 2008
Bangkok (Manager Online) - Thailand proposed to join the United Nations to send its medical team to help control the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe.
Dr. Praj Boonyongvongviroj, permanent secretary for public health, revealed 589 people have died because of the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe.
The outbreak has occurred since August 2008 and spread to a few nearby countries.
Thailand offered to send its medical team to help Zimbabwe control the cholera outbreak.
13,960 people have become ill so far.
Thailand’s medical team would comprise five doctors who specialize in epidemiology, two doctors who specialize in patients treatment and two nurses.
Cholera, acute intestinal infection, is caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Its incubation period can take 1-5 days.
It can quickly lead to dehydration and death if treatment is not given in time. Symptoms include painless, watery diarrhea and vomiting.
