Cholera: Frequently Asked Questions
What is cholera?
Cholera is a diarrhoeal disease caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium
Vibrio cholerae . Children as well as adults can get infected. In most cases, infection causes only mild diarrhoea or no symptoms at all. In 5-10% of cases, however, patients develop very severe watery diarrhoea and vomiting from 6 hours to 5 days after exposure to the bacterium. In these cases, the loss of large amounts of fluids can rapidly lead to severe dehydration. In the absence of adequate treatment, death can occur within hours.
Source: www.who.int
Cholera or Asiatic cholera is an acute infectious disease caused by strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The bacteria, which are found in f ecal-contaminated food and water and in raw or undercooked seafood, produce a toxin that affects the intestines, causing diarrhea, severe fluid and electrolyte loss, and, if untreated, death. Treatment consists of administration of glucose and electrolyte solutions; vaccines are of limited effectiveness. ...
Source: www.epicwater.com
Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae . The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes it can be severe. Approximately one in 20 infected persons has severe disease characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these persons, rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours.
Source: www.worldworx.tv
Is there a treatment for cholera?
Cholera can be simply and successfully treated by immediate replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea.
Source: www.scchealth.org
How is cholera spread?
person can become infected by drinking water or eating food contaminated by the bacterium. Common sources of foodborne infection include raw or poorly cooked seafood, raw fruit and vegetables, and other foods contaminated during preparation or storage. Bacteria present in the faeces of an infected person are the main source of contamination. The bacterium can also live in the environment in brackish rivers and coastal waters. ...
Source: www.who.int
Cholera is spread through infected water.
Source: library.thinkquest.org
What is the latest on the cholera outbreak?
This waterborne disease is a problem in certain rural areas where the local communities do not practice proper hygiene measures. The disease is spread mainly through the consumption of contaminated drinking water. Safe bottled drinking water is available at all our camps, grocery stores and hotels.
Source: www.zuluafrikasafaris.co.za
What is Cholera infection?
Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease characterized by sudden onset of effortless vomiting and profuse watery diarrhea. A series of six pandemics of cholera, originating in the Bengal basin, ravaged the world in the 19th and early 20th centuries killing thousands of people. Cholera, like plague, became a disease of fear in this part of the world. Cholera is endemic in India and Southeast Asia. People infected with V. cholerae do not become ill, although the bacteria can be present in their stools for -14 days. ...
Source: www.medindia.net
What are the symptoms of cholera?
Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes it can be severe. Approximately one in 20 infected persons has severe disease characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these persons, the rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours.
Source: www.scchealth.org
Who is likely to get cholera?
The greatest risk of cholera occurs in overpopulated communities and refugee settings characterized by poor sanitation, inadequate sewage treatment, and unsafe drinking water.
Source: www.dshs.state.tx.us
How common is cholera?
Although only a few cases are recognized in the U.S. each year, epidemic levels of cholera are reported worldwide, particularly in parts of Africa. In 2001, there were over 180,000 cases reported in 58 countries. Cases seen today are part of a pandemic (a worldwide epidemic) that started over 40 years ago, affecting millions. Cholera reached the Americas in 1991, affecting at least a million people. In 2002, fewer than 30 cases were reported in the Americas. ...
Source: www.dshs.state.tx.us
How are cholera infections diagnosed?
Cholera is diagnosed by isolating the bacteria from an infected person's stool.
Source: www.dshs.state.tx.us
What does cholera cause?
Most persons infected with V. cholerae do not become ill, although the bacterium is present in their stool for 7-14 days. About one in 20 infected persons has severe disease characterized by large amounts of watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. The resulting loss of fluids in an infected individual can rapidly lead to severe dehydration. If not treated, death can occur within hours.
Source: www.dshs.state.tx.us
How are cholera infections treated?
Cholera can be simply and successfully treated by immediate oral replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea (oral rehydration). Severe cases are treated using intravenously administered fluids and antibiotics such as tetracycline or doxycycline.
Source: www.dshs.state.tx.us
Can cholera be treated?
Cholera can be simply and successfully treated by immediate replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea. Patients can be treated with oral rehydration solution, a prepackaged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts. This solution is used throughout the world to treat diarrhea. Severe cases also require intravenous fluid replacement. With prompt rehydration, fewer than 1% of cholera patients die. ...
Source: www.worldworx.tv
What about the cholera vaccine?
Cholera vaccine is no longer being manufactured in the United States. Cholera vaccine has been around a long time and is pretty ancient technology – it has limited efficacy for a short period of time and frequent side effects. All this for a disease that has almost no impact on travelers from developed countries in light of its infrequent occurrence, generally mild effects and relatively easy treatment. ...
Source: www.travelmedicine.com
Where can cholera be found?
Cholera has been very rare in industrialized nations for the last 100 years. However, the disease is still common today in other parts of the world, including the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa. [ top of page ]
Source: www.scchealth.org
Are phages useful in treating cholera?
Yes. Felix d'Herelle came to India in 1927 and demonstrated the efficacy of anti-cholera phage in reducing the mortality rate in Punjab from 63% in the untreated group to 8% for the phage-treated group. Encouraged by these results, Morison, Director of the King Edward VII Pasteur Institute in Assam, tried phage therapy with impressive success. ...
Source: www.gangagen.com
How do people get cholera?
The most common cause of cholera is by someone eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with the bacteria.
Source: www.dshs.state.tx.us
What is the risk for cholera in the United States?
In the United States, cholera was prevalent in the 1800s but has been virtually eliminated by modern sewage and water treatment systems. However, as a result of improved transportation, more persons from the United States travel to parts of Latin America, Africa, or Asia where epidemic cholera is occurring. U.S. travelers to areas with epidemic cholera may be exposed to the cholera bacterium. ...
Source: www.worldworx.tv
How does a person get cholera?
A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces of an infected person. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. The cholera bacterium may also live in the environment in brackish rivers and coastal waters. ...
Source: www.worldworx.tv
A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. Shellfish eaten raw have been a source of cholera.
Source: www.scchealth.org
When should I suspect cholera in a child with diarrhoea?
Cholera should be suspected when a child older than 5 years or an adult develops severe dehydration from acute watery diarrhoea (usually with vomiting), or any patient older than 2 years has acute watery diarrhoea when cholera is known to be occurring in the area. Younger children also develop cholera, but the illness may be difficult to distinguish from other causes of acute watery diarrhoea, especially rotavirus.
Source: www.diarrhoea.org
Why isn't a vaccine against cholera recommended in general?
Because it is only a little more than 50% effective and the most effective way to prevent cholera is to pay strict attention to drinking water and food. It is only recommended in specific cases. Back 4.-
Source: www.olrnet.com
Can cholera be spread person-to-person?
The disease is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore, casual contact with an infected person is not a risk for becoming ill.
Source: www.scchealth.org
How do I protect myself from cholera?
Although available in other countries, there are currently no vaccines licensed for use in the U.S. The vaccine is not recommended for travelers because the risks of acquiring cholera are generally low and because the protection it offers is brief and incomplete.
Source: www.dshs.state.tx.us
What is the U.S. government doing to combat cholera?
and international public health authorities are working to enhance surveillance for cholera, investigate cholera outbreaks, and design and implement preventive measures. The Centers for Disease Control is investigating epidemic cholera wherever it occurs and is training laboratory workers in proper techniques for identification of V.cholerae. ...
Source: www.worldworx.tv
What should travelers do to avoid getting cholera?
The risk for cholera is very low for U.S. travelers visiting areas with epidemic cholera. When simple precautions are observed, contracting the disease is unlikely. All travelers to areas where cholera has occured should observe the following recomendations: Drink only water that you have boiled or treated with chlorine or iodine. Other safe beverages include tea and coffee made with boiled water and carbonated, bottled beverages with no ice. ...
Source: www.worldworx.tv
Where can a traveler get information about cholera?
The global picture of cholera changes periodically, so travelers should seek updated information on countries of interest. The Centers for Disease Control maintains a travelers' information telephone line on which callers can receive recent information on cholera and other diseases of concern to travelers. Data for this service are obtained from the World Health Organization. The number is 877-FYI-TRIP (394-8747).
Source: www.worldworx.tv
How can you avoid getting cholera from drinking water?
The easiest way of safeguarding your drinking water if you are in an area where there is a cholera outbreak: Boil the water for five minutes before drinking it. Boiling water kills the cholera bacteria. Most sanitation systems that use chlorination to kill bacteria are quite effective in eliminating cholera. Although not completely safe, when infection levels are high and no other methods are available, filtering water through sari cloth (as is done in parts of Bangladesh) can reduce the transmission of cholera.
Source: ecohealth101.org
