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- Key Facts
- Overview
- Symptoms
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- Vibrio cholerae Strains
- Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Disease Burden
- Prevention and Control
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Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated.Cholera is a disease of poverty affecting people with inadequate access to safe water and basic sanitation.Conflict, unplanned urbanization and climate change all increase the risk of cholera.Researchers have estimated that each year there are 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera, and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths worldwide due to cholera (1).Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of inequity and lack of social development.
Cholera is an extremely virulent disease transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water (2). Cholera can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea and the severe forms of the disease can kill within hours if left untreated. Most people infected with V. cholerae do not develop any symptoms, although the bacteria are present in their faece...
During the 19th century, cholera spread across the world from its original reservoir in the Ganges delta in India. Six subsequent pandemics killed millions of people across all continents. The current (seventh) pandemic started in South Asia in 1961, reached Africa in 1971 and the Americas in 1991. Cholera is now endemic in many countries.
There are many serogroups of V. cholerae, but only two – O1 and O139 – cause outbreaks. V. cholerae O1 has caused all recent outbreaks. V. choleraeO139 – first identified in Bangladesh in 1992 – caused outbreaks in the past, but recently has only been identified in sporadic cases. It has never been identified outside Asia. There is no difference in...
Cholera can be endemic or epidemic. A cholera-endemic area is an area where confirmed cholera cases were detected during the last 3 years with evidence of local transmission (meaning the cases are not imported from elsewhere). A cholera outbreak/epidemic can occur in both endemic countries and in countries where cholera does not regularly occur. Ch...
A multifaceted approach is key to control cholera, and to reduce deaths. A combination of surveillance, water, sanitation and hygiene, social mobilization, treatment, and oral cholera vaccines are used.
Cholera surveillance should be part of an integrated disease surveillance system that includes feedback at the local level and information-sharing at the global level. The detection of a suspected cholera case is based on clinical suspicion in patients aged two years and older with acute watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration or dying from acute w...
The long-term solution for cholera control lies in economic development and universal access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Actions targeting environmental conditions include the implementation of adapted long-term sustainable WASH solutions to ensure use of safe water and basic sanitation and good hygiene practices. In addition to ch...
Cholera is an easily treatable disease. The majority of people can be treated successfully through prompt administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS). The WHO/UNICEF ORS standard sachet is dissolved in 1 litre (L) of clean water. Adult patients may require up to 6 L of ORS to treat moderate dehydration on the first day. Severely dehydrated pa...
Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal disease caused by contaminated food or water and affecting people with inadequate access to safe water and sanitation. Learn about the symptoms, history, transmission, risk factors, prevention and control of cholera from WHO's fact sheet.
3 hours ago · A picture of Mildred Bandas daughter, survivor of a cholera outbreak, is seen inside their family home in Lilanda, Zambia, Saturday, March 9, 2024. Lilanda, an impoverished township on the edge of the Zambian capital of Lusaka, is a typical cholera hotspot.
Nov 30, 2022 · In 2021, 23 countries reported cholera outbreaks, mainly in the WHO Regions of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. This trend has continued into 2022 with over 29 countries (Figure 1) reporting cholera cases or outbreaks. As of 30 November 2022, 16 of these have been reporting protracted outbreaks.
Feb 25, 2023 · The UN health agency says cholera cases have been rising since 2022 and appeals for donors to support a $25 million fund. Africa, Asia and other regions are facing outbreaks due to poverty, disasters, conflict and climate change.
1 day ago · Cholera is a disease linked to poverty and poor access to clean water and sanitation. Caused by Vibrio cholerae, the disease is often asymptomatic but in its severe form, if left untreated, it can rapidly lead to death because of loss of liquids with diarrhoea. While water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions are at the core of cholera risk mitigation, cases are rising because of ...
May 12, 2024 · Key points. Cholera is a bacterial disease spread through contaminated water and food. Cholera can cause severe diarrhea, dehydration, and even death if the disease goes untreated. People living in places with unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene are at highest risk of cholera. What it is.
