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Overview

This article delves into the devastating cholera outbreak in Peru in 1991, exploring its clinical and epidemiological aspects, historical context, environmental factors, international reactions, economic repercussions, and social implications. The narrative covers the government's handling of the crisis, the impact on health and economy, and the socio-political aftermath.

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Overview

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Overview • Definitions • Cholera: clinical, epidemiology • History and pandemics • Peru: diary of Cholera’s epidemic • Environmental factors • Cholera today • Conclusion

  2. “The spread of cholera and other infectious diseases is the calling card of an economy in trouble” • Head of Ukrainian Parliament, when cholera reached Ukraine in 1994 (quoted in Lee & Dodgson)

  3. Day 0: cases of diarrhoea!

  4. Day 2: confirmed… its cholera

  5. Day 5: fish eats excrement from foreign ships

  6. Day 6: strike, death, dirtiness

  7. Has God abandoned us? • February 8, 1991, extract from the editorial column, quoting a women on the streets: • “…God is getting tired of us, and today he pull off his hands from us.”

  8. Day 7: Shinning Path’s leader captured

  9. Day 9: violence, death

  10. Day 10: ceviche, Minister of Health public speech

  11. Day 12: international reaction

  12. God abandoned us, but not only that… • Peruvians returned from Madrid… no vaccination card • Mexico burns 600kg of food from Peru • Chile stops train to Peru • Ecuador closes its borders with Peru

  13. WHO: Cholera Fact Sheet • "...Indeed, although individual cases and clusters of cases have been reported, WHO has not documented a significant outbreak of cholera resulting from commercially imported food."

  14. WHO: Cholera Fact Sheet • In 1973 the WHO World Health Assembly deleted from the International Health Regulations the requirement for presentation of a cholera vaccination certificate. Today, no country requires proof of cholera vaccination as a condition for entry, and the International Certificate of Vaccination no longer provides a specific space for recording cholera vaccinations

  15. Day 13 • Resignation of Peruvian Prime Minister (who also acted as Minister of Economy) • Starts veda: fishing is not allowed for 45 days • 8 peasants died from cholera • A doctor infected

  16. Day 21: sea isn’t contaminated, rural deaths

  17. Day 23: stop veda!, no drugs

  18. Day 30: Fujimori stops veda

  19. Day 38: aid cheques can’t be cashed (100 billions intis)

  20. Day 49: it wasn’t the fish, it was the water

  21. Behind the scenes… • WB/IMF  to apply strict macroeconomic adjustment and to promote an export-oriented model • Priority to covering up to protect tourism and fish exports • Minister of health is forced to resign in March 1991

  22. Peru in 1991 • Economic deterioration increased between 1986 and 1990 • Endemic poverty, income concentration, deteriorated social structure • Structural adjustment in 1990 • Jobs lost • Informal sector  2/3 of labor force

  23. Peru in 1991 • Pueblos jóvenes are little more than rows of cardboard shacks, with no roofs, dirt floors and no electricity or running water. Children play in the streets alongside garbage… In these areas cholera is striking with the greatest force (The New York Times, February 17, 1991)

  24. Peru in 1991 • Poverty in [Peru’s] poorest areas is also linked to deficiencies in education, health, and the lack of basic services. Social indicators in the poorest rural departments are depressing (Inter-American Development Bank, 1992) • ¼ urban popltn access to clean water

  25. WHO on Global Epidemics - Cholera • In addition to human suffering, cholera outbreaks cause panic, disrupt the social and economic structure and can impede development in the affected communities... The cholera outbreak in Peru in 1991 cost the country US$ 770 million due to food trade embargoes and adverse effects on tourism.

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