Natural Disaster: I Started By Hoarding Tens Of Billions Of Supplies

Chapter 226: Cholera



Yao Ran checked her space with her consciousness and replied, "We collected 40 kilograms of stir-fried locusts, 200 kilograms of dried locusts, and 60 kilograms of locust powder, not

counting the ones drying outside and the unprocessed ones."

When the others heard this, their eyes lit up. In one day, they had collected over 300 kilograms of food, enough for each person to have more than 42 kilograms.

Huang Qian clenched his chopsticks and said, "Great! Let's collect more tomorrow!"

Everyone agreed and started planning tomorrow's work as they ate. Before they could take a bite, screams erupted outside.

After the flood receded, most people moved to lower floors. However, due to the building damage, soundproofing was poor, and they could hear everything clearly.

Among the locusts' buzzing, panic-stricken cries were heard from outside and downstairs. "Help! Does anyone have medicine for diarrhea? I have gone to the bathroom seven times already. Please, help me!"

When they heard this, Yao Ran exchanged looks with the others. They put down their chopsticks, put on their protective suits, and left Yao Ran's apartment.

Arriving at the 19th floor, they found Quan Yuanwei, Sima Yun, and Sima Hao, who had also come out to investigate.

Long Yu walked up to them and asked, "What happened?"

Sima Hao turned to look at him and replied, "Many people suddenly have diarrhea after eating the locusts. Some of them even died from dehydration."

Sima Yun sighed and added, "I saw a lot of them eating locusts without cleaning them properly earlier today and tried to warn them, but they ignored me. I guess most of them are sick because of that."

Just as he finished speaking, more cries came from outside and downstairs.

"Please, help me! I'm already dehydrated. I don't want to die!"

"Someone, please save my child! He suddenly has a high fever and faint!"

Hearing more desperate cries, Yao Ran frowned and said, "This doesn't seem like a parasitic infection. It sounds more like the symptoms of cholera."

Everyone was stunned when they heard what she said.

Long Yu's eyes flickered, and he asked, "Ran Ran, are you sure?"

Yao Ran nodded and explained, "Parasite infections cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and sometimes diarrhea. But cholera is a severe diarrheal disease that can be life-threatening." "The bacteria that causes cholera, Vibrio cholerae, is comma-shaped and gram-negative, spreading due to poor hygiene or eating unclean food. The illness is dangerous because of a toxin the bacteria release in the small intestine."

Listening to her, Long Yu asked, "Can it be treated?"

Yao Ran nodded, "Cholera is treatable, but since dehydration can happen quickly, emergency treatment is crucial."

"They need oral rehydration salts, intravenous fluids, and electrolytes. Antibiotics can reduce symptoms and help control the spread of the disease, but the biggest challenge is to get clean water and live a hygienic lifestyle in this heat."

After she finished speaking, everyone fell silent, realizing the gravity of the situation. Clean water was now harder to find than food or medicine, and without it, this outbreak could spread uncontrollably.

Just as Yao Ran was thinking about how to control the spreading of cholera, someone called her from downstairs.

The man's voice was hoarse and weak as he said, "Miss Yao, I know you are the doctor in this apartment building, and your medical skills are excellent. Can you help me figure out what is wrong with me? Why can't I stop having diarrhea? Please, help me. I have supplies to pay you."

Upon hearing this, Yao Ran said, "You guys stay here. I will go and take a look."

After saying that, she walked to the metal door blocking the stairs to the 19th floor. Long Yu was worried about her and followed her to the stairs.

Standing behind the closed door, Yao Ran looked through the glass window on the metal door. The man was leaning weakly against the wall, using a torch to keep the locusts away.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Observing him closely, she noticed signs of severe dehydration. She could tell at a glance that he was infected with cholera.

Although Yao Ran had medicine in her space and could cure him, she didn't want to use it on a stranger. If people discovered she had medicine, they would all come to her and demand her to treat them.

At the end of the world, people were ruthless and lacked compassion. Even if she helped them, most wouldn't be grateful and might accuse her of profiting from their misery. Instead of helping them directly, Yao Ran preferred to give the medicine to Xu Qipeng and let him handle it.

Looking at the man, she said calmly, "I can't help you. You should go to the hospital."

The man's face paled at her words. He leaned against the wall, looking at Yao Ran, and said, "Miss Yao, I just came back from the hospital. There are too many patients there, and they have run out of medicine."

He gasped, licking his cracked and pale lips, and continued to plead, "Miss Yao, I have no other choice. Please save me. I can't die. My son isn't even a year old, my wife is weak, and I still have to take care of my old parents."

After saying those words with difficulty, the man lost his strength. He slid down the wall as his torch fell to the ground. With the last of his strength, he whispered, "Please... save me...." Yao Ran met his gaze, watching the light slowly fade from his eyes. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened the door. Before the locusts could fly past it, she quickly stepped out and shut it behind her.

Long Yu, watching from behind the closed door, saw a bottle of diluted lake water appear in Yao Ran's hand. The man had lost consciousness at this time and didn't know what happened.

Yao Ran slowly fed him the diluted lake water, waiting until he regained consciousness, and said, "You can take the water with you. Go back. I can't help you."