Skip to main content
3338 Results
 
msf-placeholder
Cholera

How cholera kills

The germ Vibrio cholerae is excreted by a sufferer in the stools and vomit. It can then be spread directly to other people if they touch the patient and then fail to wash their hands before eating. Project Update - 28 Sep 2000
 
msf-placeholder
Cholera

How MSF teams treat cholera patients

Cholera is eminently treatable. The main pathological process it causes is dehydration - thus the treatment we use is simply to replace all the fluid being lost. MSF treats many patients using oral rehydration solution, called ORS. This is a mixture of glucose and electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium) that comes in sachets. Project Update - 28 Sep 2000
 
msf-placeholder
Meningitis

How meningitis kills

The meningococcus resides in the nose or throat of health carriers - people who do not themselves fall sick because they have a measure of natural or acquired immunity. Project Update - 28 Sep 2000
 
msf-placeholder
Meningitis

How MSF teams treat meningitis patients

Meningitis should be diagnosed by a microscope examination of fluid taken from a patient during a lumbar puncture, which means inserting a needle into the spinal canal low on the back. Project Update - 28 Sep 2000
 
msf-placeholder
Kenya

Nutritional emergency in Kenya

During the past three years, the district of Samburu - particularly the Baragoï zone - has been afflicted by a serious drought. Due to the scarcity of water and the loss of grazing land, MSF estimates that in this area populated primarily by herdsmen, 40% of the cattle have died. Project Update - 28 Sep 2000
 
msf-placeholder
El Salvador

Dengue fever campaigns start in El Salvador

The dengue fever in El Salvador continues to spread. The death toll so far has reached 30 people (28 children and two adults), indicating a high fatality rate of greater than seven per cent. Project Update - 25 Sep 2000
 
msf-placeholder
El Salvador

Dengue fever description in El Salvador

Dengue fever is caused by arboviruses, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, principally Aedes aegypti. There are four serotypes of dengue virus, and they are all responsible for the same disease. Infection is frequently asymptomatic, or leads to one of the two clinical forms of dengue: dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever. Project Update - 19 Sep 2000
 
msf-placeholder
El Salvador

Dengue fever outbreak in El Salvador

An outbreak of dengue fever with some instances of dengue haemorragic fever, has been affecting El Salvador since July, 2000. On September 12, the President of El Salvador declared the dengue outbreak a national emergency. Since the beginning of the year, over 2,000 cases of dengue have been registered of which 221 are haemorragical cases (10,54%). Of these, 24 patients have died. Project Update - 19 Sep 2000
 
msf-placeholder
Afghanistan

Cholera and looming food crisis in Afghanistan

In addition to existing problems confronting Afghanistan, the country is now also facing a cholera epidemic. Project Update - 13 Sep 2000
 
msf-placeholder
El Salvador

MSF supports HIV/AIDS activist groups in El Salvador

MSF in El Salvador is supporting various groups in the country in their fight to access drugs to treat HIV/AIDS at affordable prices. MSF has hosted meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Health and national and international NGO's. All parties are interested in obtaining antiretroviral medications to combat HIV in the country. Project Update - 13 Sep 2000
Cholera intervention in South Kivu
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Independent medical humanitarian assistance

We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - most of them hired locally. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence and impartiality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation.

Learn more