- Cholera is one of the oldest diseases with pandemic potential.
- The world experienced seven cholera pandemics in the last 194 years.
- In 1817, the violent epidemic that started in India was the first of the seven cholera pandemics.
Despite the advances made in
understanding the disease
and its treatment, cholera
continues to be a major
public health problem in
many countries.
In its epidemic form the case
fatality rate can be as high as
>30%, unless the disease is
diagnosed and treated by the
health professionals as early
as possible.
- Cholera is a diarrhoeal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera.
- 10-20% of cholera patients develop severe watery diarrhea with vomiting.
- Outbreaks can occur where water supply, sanitation, food safety and hygiene are inadequate.
- Greater risks occur in over-populated communities and refugee camps, with Poor sanitation, Unsafe drinking water, Increased person to-person transmission.
- Because incubation period is very short, the number of cases can rise extremely rapidly.
- Treatment is straight forward (basically rehydration), and if applied correctly and promptly, case fatality rate is <1%.
- In untreated cases, case fatality rate may reach 30-50%.
Transmission of Cholera
- Transmitted by the fecal-oral route.
- Contaminated food (especially seafood) is a more common cause of cholera in developed countries, whereas contaminated water is more common in developing countries.
- 88% of all diarrheal disease in the world can be attributed to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Impact of Cholera Outbreaks
- Public Health systems
-Number of ill persons
-Deaths
-Health personnel
-Treatment infrastructure Medicines and other supplies
- National Economy
-Direct costs
-Wage loss
-Industrial and Agricultural production
-Trade and Exports
-Travel and Tourism
Prevention and Control
- Blocking Transmission:
-Environmental Control Water Supply Sanitation /Sewage Disposal
-Personal Hygiene
-Food Safety - Containment: Surveillance
-Early Detection
-Prompt management
-Following up contacts / family members
-Disinfection / Funeral precautions - Case-management
- Vaccination.
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