Search results
- Key Facts
- Overview
- Symptoms
- History
- Vibrio cholerae Strains
- Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Disease Burden
- Prevention and Control
- Surveillance
- Water and Sanitation Interventions
- Treatment
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...
Learn about cholera, a diarrheal illness caused by a bacterium that contaminates water or food. Find out how to avoid getting sick, what to do if you have symptoms, and where cholera is found.
In 2021, 23 countries reported cholera outbreaks, mainly in the WHO Regions of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. This trend continued into 2022 as 30 countries across five of the six WHO regions reported cholera cases or outbreaks.
Dec 9, 2022 · Cholera is a bacterial disease that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. It can be fatal if untreated, especially in people with low stomach acid or poor sanitation. Learn about the symptoms, causes, risk factors, complications and prevention of cholera from Mayo Clinic.
Feb 25, 2023 · The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a global surge of cholera cases, with three countries reporting outbreaks this week and 22 others facing high risk of disease spread. The agency asks donors for help to fight the acute diarrhoeal infection caused by contaminated water or food, and urges prevention measures such as safe water and sanitation.
People also ask
Why are cholera outbreaks not reported?
How many countries report cholera outbreaks in 2021?
Are cholera outbreaks putting a billion people at risk?
3 days ago · Zambia is battling its largest cholera outbreak ever and has seen a dramatic increase in cases since mid-December 2023. As of February 22, Zambia has recorded over 19,000 cases and almost 700 deaths. Yemen continues to face the world's largest cholera epidemic since modern record-keeping began in 1949. Amid ongoing full-scale war that caused ...
