Microorganisms are tiny living organisms that are too small to be seen by the human eye. They play many roles in the environment to maintain the ecosystem. Some live inside humans and animals and help with their bodily processes, while others may live in the air or in water. Bacteria are a type of microorganisms. They are single-cell organisms that measure less than 5 micrometres. They are said to have appeared 4 billion years ago, often theorised as the first organisms to exist on the planet. Bacteria are prokaryotes; they have no nucleus. It can be seen from the diagram above that other than the plasma membrane, the bacteria cell does not have any inner organelle membranes. The DNA are found in the cytoplasm, with no nuclear envelope. It also has a flagellum, used for movement. Pili are hair like structures that is used to transfer genetic material. Other than that, the cell has a capsule layer surrounding it. (Jill Seladi-Schulman, 2019) Are bacteria dangerous? Well, there are many useful bacteria that are used in food production, research and development, nitrogen fixation, etc. Fr example, bacteria are used in the development of antibiotics, such as Streptomyces and some Pseudomonas species. However, there are certain types of bacteria that can cause diseases to humans. Among these disease are Cholera, Salmonellosis, and Campylobacteriosis. These three diseases are foodborne, meaning that they are spread through the ingestion of food by humans. What are the causes of these diseases? How are they treated? First, let’s look at cholera. This disease is commonly spread by contaminated water. This is especially prevalent in countries that are stricken with poverty, and have poor sewage systems, such as Africa, Southeast Asia and Haiti (Mayo Clinic, n.d.). Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. it can be found in water sources, like well water, seafood, especially shellfish that come from contaminated water, raw produce, and grains. Even when the bacteria does not cause illness in some people who are infected, it can still be passed in their stool, which then contaminates water supplies. The toxin produced by the bacteria has severe effects on the human body, causing it to secrete huge amounts of water. Common symptoms are diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms occur during the early stages of infection. If left untreated, dehydration can occur. Signs of cholera dehydration are irritability, fatigue, dry mouth, low blood pressure, etc.. This can then lead to an electrolyte imbalance, which can cause muscle cramps and hypovolemic shock. In terms of prevention, the cholera vaccine is available for people who are travelling to or living in a country affected by cholera. Other than that, steps that can be taken to prevent the spread of cholera include good hygiene. Frequent hand washing and drinking water that is clean; bottled or boiled, can help. On the other hand, cooking food completely before eating and peeling fruits and vegetables before eating using sanitary methods are good precautions to take. Next on the list is salmonellosis. It is a type of diarrhoeal disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella. It is found commonly in animals, and are spread to humans through the consumption of undercooked contaminated meat such as poultry, pigs, cattle. It can also be found in pets such as cats, dogs, birds, etc.. it can also be spread through faeces and contact with infected animals. Possible signs of infection include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and blood in stool. It is often mistaken as the stomach flu due to the similar symptoms. This infection could also cause a fever and headaches. Some types of the bacteria cause typhoid fever. (Mayo Clinic, n.d.) In severe cases where dehydration occurs, electrolyte replacement, and rehydration is used to treat the disease. Other than that, treatments aim to control symptoms of the infection until it subsides. Prevention of salmonellosis has to be done from the agriculture industry, to the production and preparation of food. Food production companies and restaurants need to go through careful procedures and inspections to ensure the absence of salmonella in the food produced. At home, it is essential that food is cooked thoroughly before eating. Extra care should be taken when handling animals and pets. Major contribution is required by food producers and food handlers to prevent the spread of this disease. (World Health Organisation, 2018) Campylobacteriosis is a disease caused by Campylobacter spp.. it is found in the intestinal tracts of poultry, adult ruminants, and other animals. The spreading of campylobacteriosis is mostly through undercooked or raw meats, usually chicken. Other than that, it can acquired through contact with infected animals. Outbreaks of this disease are often related to chicken, contaminated water, and dairy products. (Cribb, 2022) Within two to five days after exposure to the pathogen, an infected person may experience the same diarrhoeal symptoms as the previous two bacterial diseases, such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever and dehydration. According to the pattern, it is noticed that most foodborne bacterial diseases mainly attack the digestive system first. To minimise the risk of infection, other than the precautions mentioned in the previous paragraphs, it is recommended to avoid unpasteurised milk, and practicing caution when swimming. (Minesota, Department of Health, n.d.) One factor that can be noted is the pattern of this disease in the way their outbreaks occur. Foodborne diseases tend to be prevalent in developing countries, especially those struggling with poverty. Many areas of these countries lack proper sewage systems and water treatment. The people don't have access to safe water supply, or proper sanitation. Proper infrastructure is crucial when it comes to preventing disease outbreaks. When an outbreak of disease like these happens, it spreads to a huge number of people in a short span of time. The number of infected persons increases rapidly, which will strain the healthcare system. The number of healthcare personnel to patient ratio will decrease, not to mention medicine will become scarce. This means that many people will not be able to obtain proper treatment, which will in turn cause the death toll to rise. However, it does not end there. At this point, the economy of the affected country takes a direct hit. The increasing number of ill people leads to a decrease in labour force. This means fewer workers, decrease in wages, and major loss for many establishments. Moreover, the tourism industry will also suffer a major loss as less and less people travel to and from an area of outbreak, resulting in loss of income for a lot of people. Then, there is the agriculture and industrial sector, which may have been the source of the outbreak. They would have to go through careful inspection and disinfection, which all costs money. The government will have to increase spending to make up for all this loss, and this is not even including expenditure for healthcare as well, all the while dealing with a decrease in the country's revenue. Especially in countries dealing with poverty, it is difficult to address the cause of these disease outbreaks and enforce long- term solutions. Bibliography Cribb, D. V. L. W. R. e. a., 2022. Risk factors for campylobacteriosis in Australia: outcomes of a 2018– 2019 case–control study.. BMC Infectious Diseases. Jill Seladi-Schulman, P., 2019. What are bacteria and what do they do?. Medical News Today. Mayo Clinic, S., n.d. Mayo Clinic. [Online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cholera/symptoms-causes/syc20355287 Mayo Clinic, S., n.d. Mayo CLinic. [Online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/salmonella/symptoms-causes/syc20355329 Minesota, Department of Health, n.d. Campylobacteriosis. [Online] Available at: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/campylobacteriosis/prevention.html World Health Organisation, 2018. Salmonella-(non-typhoidal). [Online] Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/salmonella-(non-typhoidal)
