Vaccine Research Library » Cholera
Cholera at a glance:
According to the World Health Organization, “Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Every year, there are an estimated 3–5 million cholera cases and 100 000–120 000 deaths due to cholera. The short incubation period of two hours to five days, enhances the potentially explosive pattern of outbreaks.
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, and reached Africa in 1971 and the Americas in 1991. Cholera is now endemic in many countries.” [1]
Why should I be concerned?
- Cholera vaccines are being tested in developing nations.
- Water supply, sanitation, and food safety improvements and community awareness are the best ways to decrease the incidence of cholera in developing nations, but relief organizations utilize vaccinations as part of their assistance efforts.
- Negative reactions to the cholera vaccines have been reported. See the following articles.
1. World Health Organization: Cholera
Cholera Articles