Cholera is a bacterial infection of the small bowel that can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration.
There have been seven great pandemics (worldwide epidemics) of cholera in history. The seventh began in 1961, when cholera re-emerged in Indonesia and swept across most of the world, and it still lingers today.
Researchers estimate that each year there are 3 million cases of cholera worldwide, with approximately 100,000 deaths annually.
Cholera settles wherever poor hygiene permits it to infect humans, who appear to be cholera’s only hosts. The bacterium that causes cholera is most productive in times of flood and war, since these events can reduce the availability of clean water. Cholera continues to occur in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central America. Fewer than 1% of people with severe cholera die if they’re quickly and properly treated.
Cholera is caused by a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae. A person gets cholera by drinking water or eating food infected with the bacterium. Once swallowed, it settles in the lining of the small bowel and releases a toxin (poison) that can cause the body to flush liquid into the small bowel, resulting in watery diarrhea.
The bacterium that causes cholera is usually transmitted by water contaminated with human feces, but it can also be transmitted by ingesting contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked seafood and shellfish. Most people infected with cholera have no symptoms, yet they carry the bacteria for a few weeks, excreting them slowly into the water supply.
Naturally, this isn’t a major problem in countries with flush toilets and sewage plants. Canada, the US, and Western Europe rarely report cholera, and if they do, it’s almost always seen in someone who has returned from a high-risk country.
If you think that you might have cholera, immediately start drinking oral rehydration solutions (made from purified water, sugar, and salts) on your way to the hospital or doctor. To prevent vomiting, drink frequently but drink small amounts. If you do not have access to medical care, self-treat with an antibiotic for travellers’ diarrhea.
The basic treatment for cholera is fluid replacement, including salts and minerals. This solution is given either orally, intravenously, or through the nose (by a special tube) into the stomach. Antibiotic pills are often given at the outset and can shorten the diarrhea significantly.
Preventing cholera when you travel may not always be easy. There is an oral vaccine that provides 85% protection for 6 months and about 50% over 2 years. However, cholera is extremely rare among travellers, with an estimated rate of 1 affected person per 500,000 travellers. Therefore, the vaccine may not be routinely recommended by doctors.
Following these precautions in affected areas can improve your chances of preventing cholera:
Here’s a helpful saying to help you remember these strategies: "Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it!"
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Cholera
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