Cholera

• Cholera is an infectious disease that can kill within hours if left untreated.⁽¹⁾ Cholera is caused by ingesting water or food contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria.⁽¹⁾
• Cholera is endemic in around 50 countries, mainly in South and Southeast Asia and Africa. There has also been an increase in the number of cases in the Caribbean in recent years.^(1,2,4)
• It is estimated that every year, there are roughly 1.3 to 4.0 million cases, and 21,000 to 143,000 deaths per year worldwide due to cholera.⁽¹⁾
• Symptomatic cholera is shown by watery diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Although the disease often has a mild progression, without treatment Cholera can lead to death.^(1,2)
• Cholera is a treatable disease.⁽¹⁾ A multifaceted approach which also includes the administration of oral cholera vaccines is key to control cholera, and to reduce deaths.⁽⁵⁾

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection that can kill within hours if left untreated.⁽¹⁾ Cholera is caused by ingesting water or food that has been contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria.⁽¹⁾ Cholera is most likely to occur and spread in places with inadequate water treatment, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene.⁽²⁾

Cholera is endemic in around 50 countries, primarily South and Southeast Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.⁽²⁾ Cholera is most likely to occur and spread in places with inadequate water treatment, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene.⁽²⁾ Cholera bacteria can also live in the environment in brackish rivers and coastal waters. Shellfish eaten raw have been a source of infection.⁽²⁾

• Travellers visiting places with poor sanitation are at greatest risk of contracting cholera.^(1,2)
• An increased risk of infection is associated with travellers likely to be in close contact with the local population (including travellers visiting friends and relatives, and expatriates), emergency relief workers, health-care and military personnel, and travellers to areas with a high risk of infection or with insufficient access to medical facilities, such as backpackers.^(2,4)
• Direct person-to-person transmission has been reported, including to healthcare workers during epidemics.⁽²⁾ Most people infected with V. cholerae do not develop any symptoms, although the bacteria are present in their faeces for 1-10 days after infection and are shed back into the environment, potentially infecting other people.⁽¹⁾