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Cholera

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It has a short incubation period, from less than one day to five days, and produces an enterotoxin that causes a copious, painless, watery diarrhoea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given. Vomiting also occurs in most patients.

More about cholera

New WHO position paper
WHO position paper on Oral Rehydration Salts to reduce mortality from cholera


TECHNICAL INFORMATION

- Treatment
- Prevention and control
- Surveillance and number of cases
- Vaccines
- Supplies: diarrhoeal disease kits

GENERAL INFORMATION

- Fact sheet
- Frequently asked questions and information for travellers
- Impact of cholera

RELATED TOPICS

- Shigella dystentery
- Typhoid fever

CHOLERA OUTBREAKS

Cholera in Zimbabwe - update 3
23 March 2009

- Cholera outbreak maps
- Cholera outbreak archives

STATISTICS

- Annual summaries

INFORMATION RESOURCES

- Publications
- Weekly epidemiological record
- International travel and health: chapter 5 [pdf 1.2Mb]


WHO PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES

The Global Task Force on Cholera

Cholera (Initiative for Vaccine Research)

Cholera outbreak control measures (African Region)

Cholera (Region of the Americas)

Cholera (South-East Asia Region)