Cholera

Cholera (also called Asiatic cholera) is an infectious disease, caused by bacteria that are typically ingested by drinking water that is contaminated by improper sanitation, or by eating improperly cooked fish, especially shellfish. Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Death is generally due to the dehydration caused by the illness. When cholera is left untreated, it generally has a high death rate. Treatment is typically an aggressive rehydration treatment. With treatment, death rates plummet. Cholera was first described in a scientific manner by the physician Garcia de Orta in the 16th century.

Treatment

Prevention

Although cholera can be life-threatening, it is easily prevented and treated. In the United States, because of advanced water and sanitation systems, cholera is not a major threat. The last major outbreak of cholera in the United States was in 1911. However, everyone, especially travelers, should be aware of how the disease is transmitted and what can be done to prevent it.

Related Topics:
United States - 1911

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Simple sanitation is usually sufficient to stop an epidemic. There are several points along the transmission path at which the spread may be halted:

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• Sickbed: Proper disposal and treatment of waste produced by cholera victims.
• Sewage: Treatment of general sewage before it enters the waterways.
• Sources: Warnings about cholera contamination posted around contaminated water sources.
• Sterilization: Boiling, filtering, and chlorination of water before use.

Filtration and boiling is by far the most effective means of halting transmission. In general, education and sanitation are the limiting factors in prevention of cholera epidemics.

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