Can i get cholera

You can avoid getting the illness when traveling abroad with the following measures:. In addition, the U. Food and Drug Administration FDA has approved a single-dose live oral cholera vaccine called Vaxchora for adults ages 18 to 64 who are traveling to an area of active cholera transmission. The vaccine is designed to protect against cholera caused by O1 strains of Vibrio cholerae. Although most cases of cholera are mild — particularly if treated — the infection can be fatal.

Other complications of cholera include:. If cholera makes you too ill to eat, dangerously low levels of blood sugar can occur, causing seizures, loss of consciousness, and death. Children are at increased risk for this complication.

Finally, shock caused by cholera can lead to kidney failure, in which the kidneys lose their filtering ability, allowing excess fluids, some electrolytes, and wastes to build up in the body.

This is a potentially life-threatening condition. The WHO estimates that between 1. But cholera is likely to be endemic in certain countries in Africa, the eastern Mediterranean region, southeast Asia, and the western Pacific, according to the WHO.

Most cases of dehydration are mild and resolved by drinking lots of fluids water or sports drinks. Severe dehydration, though, may require intravenous fluids administered by a health professional. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC In addition to covering all the basics of cholera, the CDC provides the latest statistics and data on the disease, insight into their own efforts to investigate and combat outbreaks, and helpful information for travelers.

Mayo Clinic A highly trusted source for Everyday Health editors, the Mayo Clinic offers clear, straightforward info on cholera and its potential complications and what to do if you believe you've been exposed to it.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. February 1, General Information: Cholera. August 5, World Health Organization. January 17, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. May 12, Fanous M, King KC. June 6, National Organization of Rare Disorders.

It's not found in the UK, but there's a very small risk of getting it while travelling in some parts of the world. It's mainly found in places without a clean water supply or modern sewage system, such as parts of Africa and Asia.

You can check the country information on the TravelHealthPro website. The vaccine is given as a drink. Even people with severe cases of cholera recover fully in a week or so if they get medical care. When someone is infected with the cholera bacteria, symptoms can appear in a few hours or as late as 5 days later.

Some people with cholera have no signs or symptoms, but some cases are severe and can be life-threatening. Common symptoms of cholera and the dehydration it causes include:. Cholera can cause watery diarrhea and vomiting, making people who have it get dehydrated quickly. When dehydration is severe, it can cause serious health problems if it's not treated.

It can even cause seizures and kidney failure. People who don't get the proper medical treatment may even die.

People get it from drinking water or eating food that's contaminated with a type of bacteria called Vibrio cholerae. It's rare in the United States, but people can still get it.

People who travel from countries where the infection is more common can bring cholera into the U. Some people in the U. People get cholera from eating or drinking food or water that's been contaminated with the feces poop of someone who has cholera. This is one reason why cholera is rare in countries with good sanitation systems. Things like flush toilets, sewer systems, and water treatment facilities keep poop out of the water and food supply.

But for people living in places without good sanitation, cholera is more of a risk. Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the toxigenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 or O An estimated 2. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can be severe. Approximately 1 in 10 people who get sick with cholera will develop severe symptoms such as watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps.

In these people, rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours. The cholera bacterium is usually found in water or in foods that have been contaminated by feces poop from a person infected with cholera bacteria.

Cholera is most likely to occur and spread in places with inadequate water treatment, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene. Cholera bacteria can also live in the environment in brackish rivers and coastal waters. Shellfish eaten raw have been a source of infection. Rarely, people in the U. A person can get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with cholera bacteria. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces of an infected person that contaminates water or food.

The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. The infection is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore, casual contact with an infected person is not a risk factor for becoming ill. Cholera infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can be severe.