Derelict water mains and inadequate

refrigeration have spawned an outbreak of hemorrhagic colitis in North Korea, giving

cause for residents to coin the summer monsoon period, “colitis season.”

A source in North Hamgyung Province

reported to Daily NK on August 21st, “Recently a lot of people are wracked with

abdominal pain brought on by the illness,” and “It’s not just children and the

elderly either, young people are just as susceptible.”

10-20% of residents in each region have

been affected by the illness. It spreads quickly, he said, “If I get it today,

someone else will contract it tomorrow. In the past, many died from this type

of sickness, but these days the medicine brought in from China has helped to

save lives.”

The heat and humidity of monsoon season

usher in a host of unavoidable maladies to the North, hemorrhagic colitis being

one of the most dominant. Heavy rains hit the North at the end of June, four to

five days later than their southern counterpart, and ease up near the end of

July. A dearth of sanitary drinking water is cited as the predominant factor in

contracting the disease.

“There are pumps to filter the tap water

flowing in from polluted pipes, but it’s generally not enough to remove the

harmful bacteria [E.coli] that causes the infection,” he explained.

Oppressively high temperatures and moisture cause food to spoil rapidly, and

residents to eat the contaminated remains. “Insufficient and intermittent

supplies of electricity prevent refrigerators from functioning properly, though

most households don’t even possess one to begin with,” he went on to say,

pointing out other circumstances that can bring on the condition.

Hermorrhagic colitis is a type of

gastroenteritis in which certain strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli

[E.coli] infect the large intestine and produce Shiga toxin, leading to bloody diarrhea

and other serious complications. Severe abdominal cramps begin suddenly along

with loose stools. Symptoms can range from mild diarrhea and cramping to severe

diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloody stools, nausea, and vomiting. “Last year most

people just had abdominal pain and diarrhea; this year, however, most everyone

has experienced blood in their stools.”

Despite the pervasive nature of the illness,

the North Korean authorities have not proposed any countermeasures. The broken

healthcare system and lack of medical supplies prompt most people to turn to

self-diagnosis. “The Terramycin [an anti-infective that has been proven

effective against a wide variety of infectious diseases] available domestically

does not have the intended effect, leaving many people dehydrated and prone to

convulsions.” Antibiotic resistance from abuse of the drug is common; in the

past, if any options were available, it was one of the only ones.

Refraining from food and drinking salt

water are the most commonly practiced self-remedies. Colon cleanses,

Synthomycin [an anti-inflammatory drug], or UN-supplied antibiotics, all

available for purchase at the markets, are other typical methods people employ

as cures.

However, the majority of the pills

available at the market are counterfeits, over 80%, according to our source,

manufactured by individuals at home. Those most severely afflicted, and in critical

condition, resort to ingesting raw or cooked opium to find relief.

“Most are aware that North Korean drugs are

counterfeits, so they only purchase medications manufactured in China,” the

source said, then warning, “You can’t always trust the Chinese pills either, so

most people purchase vials of Levomycin [an antibiotic manufactured in China]

and use it in an intravenous drip [IV], asserting it to be the most effective

and trusted treatment available.”

Levomycin costs approximately 4 RMB in the

market; a 500ml IV drip comes to an additional 4 RMB. Those suffering from this

particular strain of colitis require a minimum of 10 Levomycin vials and

components for five or more IVs to combat the symptoms and overcome the

disease.

“Those inflicted often purchase the

medicine at the Jangmadang and go to the hospital to have the doctors there

administer the IV. Hospital staff are

completely aware that the drugs they are using have come from various

locations” but tacitly comply with the requests; if anyone, the consequences of the collapsed medical system are most

salient to them.