Cholera

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.Cholera is spread by contaminated water and food. It generally occurs in regions of the world where there is no clean water or adequate sewage disposal.

A dehydrated child receiving oral rehydration therapy (Photo: UNICEF)

V. cholerae bacteria produce a toxin which is responsible for the severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and leg cramps characteristic of the disease. In its most extreme form, cholera can be fatal within hours.

Cholera is caused by the O1 and O139 serogroups of V. cholerae. Other serogroups exist (and may sometimes cause skin infections in patients exposed to contaminated flood waters), however, these serogroups do not produce the disease known as cholera.

Most healthy people infected with V. cholerae O1 and O139 do not become ill. When illness does occur, it is usually relatively mild and self limiting, and can be difficult to distinguish from other types of acute diarrhoea. Fewer than 10% of ill people develop ' cholera gravis' where profuse watery diarrhoea can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not given promptly.

Cholera is prevalent in Central and South America, Africa and Asia. Sudden large outbreaks are usually caused by a contaminated water supply rather than by direct person-to-person contact. Cholera does not occur in the UK and is rarely reported in UK travellers.

Related Topics:

• Gastrointestinal infections
• Travel Health

• Factsheet on Cholera
  Information and facts about Cholera an acute intestinal infection caused by Vibrio cholerae.
  Added/updated: 12 December 2008
  
• Current cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe
  Information and the current Cholera situation in Zimbabwe.
  Added/updated: 12 December 2008