"e. coli" does not = "cholera"

[Terry]

The media hype indicating that e.coli and cholera are the same is really p'ng me off. While in the same family, they are not the same.

Cholera is rapid and deadly and not generally found in the U.S.

E.Coli can, if left untreated, lead to death, mainly through deyhydration. But e.coli isn't at all rare and found in our intestines and DUH, in sewage.

According to Dr. Bernadine Healy, e.coli is not likely to be transferred from someone who contacted it in the waters of NOLA to another person at a shelter. (However, wash hands, wash hands, wash hands.)

According to Dr. Healy -- those in shelters and those who have been in the NOLA waters need Hep. A vaccines. IMHO they also need Hep B series. And of course - tetanus.

Personally, I'm still worried more about the inflammatory nature of the NOLA floodwaters than the e. coli. Everthing could go "poof."

[JQ Public]

Agreed. There is probably ecoli in every single persons house from the President to my gym teacher. Its not very suprising to hear that ecoli is in the water. I mean what did they expect?

[LSU2001]

agreed, e-coli and Vibrio cholerae are not even that closely related. However e-coli is an indicator species of a group called fecal coliform bacteria. the presence of e-coli indicates sewage contamination and the POSSIBLE presence of other pathogenic bacteria.
Tim

http://www.switzerland.k12.in.us/watershed/fecal.html