Cholera What is cholera? Cholera is an acute disease of the gastrointestinal tract caused by the contamination of food or drink by a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae. A typical case, after an incubation period of a few hours to 5 days, begins suddenly with severe diarrhea without pain or colic. Fluid gushes from the bowel and stomach. After the fecal contents of the guts have been evacuated the typical 'rice-water' material is passed. The patient has severe loss of water from the body and this can cause death. Symptoms, however, can range from very mild to severe. How does it spread? Cholera is spread through ingestion of food or water contaminated directly or indirectly with faeces or vomitus of infected persons. The disease can occur in large-scale epidemics where proper sanitary measures have broken down. Raw or undercooked seafood from polluted water can cause outbreaks. How can you prevent it? Avoid contaminated food by eating only foods that have been thoroughly cooked and are still hot, especially meat, fish and shellfish like clams, oysters, etc., or eating fruit that you have peeled yourself. Make sure all vegetables are cooked and avoid salads. Avoid foods and beverages from unlicensed street vendors. Avoid contaminated water. Drinks only water that you have boiled or has been treated with chlorine or iodine, or bottled beverages with no ice. Be careful about personal hygiene. Always wash your hands before eating and after going to toilet. No country requires proof of cholera vaccination as a condition for entry. The traditional cholera vaccine by injection only provides incomplete protection of short duration and can convey a false sense of security. Its use for prevention is not recommended. How is it treated? Treatment of cholera consists mainly of fluid and mineral replacement. Oral or intravenous fluid may be given. Pre-packed oral rehydration salts are widely available; from these, solutions can easily prepared for oral use. Appropriate antibiotic can shorten the duration of diarrhoea and diminish the severity of illness. Worldwide Cholera cases reported in 2007 Countries/Areas Reporting period Case no. Death Africa Mozambique 10/07 - 10/08 7,547 78 Angola 04/04/2008 4,500 150 Sudan 08/09/08 9,000 44 Cameroon 01/01/07 - 31/12/07 10 1 D. R. Congo 01/01/08 – 23/02/08 5,483 120 Congo 01/01/07 – 31/12/07 7,785 133 Tanzania 14/10/08 70 4 Liberia 05/12/07 – 11/01/08 299 4 Chad 01/06/2006 – 31/10/2006 1,201 60 Uganda 27/06/08 290 31 Niger 01/01/07 – 31/12/07 24 2 Nigeria 25/04/08 266 50 South Africa 02/07/08 27 4 Malawi 18/01/08 291 8 Mali 05/12/05 – 31/12/05 142 8 Benin 14/10/08 600   Guinea 01/01/07 - 31/12/07 8,546 311 Guinea-Bissau 01/01-08 - 12/10/08 10,872 185 Sao Tome and Principe 01/01/07 – 31/12/07 90 0 Sierra Leone 01/01/07 – 31/12/07 2,219 84 Senegal 01/01/07 - 31/10/07 3,984 24 Cote d'Ivoire 01/01/07 - 31/12/07 8 1 Kenya 18/04/08 1,300 67 Namibia 16/05/08 2,168 19 Zimbabwe 26/08/08 - 11/11/08 1,224 42 Burundi 01/01/07 - 31/12/07 365 2 Burkina Faso 08/08/05 – 09/10/05 1,050 16 Djibouti 01/01/07 – 31/12/07 372 25 Togo 01/01/07 – 31/12/07 65 1 Zambia 25/03/2008 253 1 Somalia 25/04/08 535 77 Rwanda 01/01/07 - 31/12/07 1,453 21 Ethiopia 01/01/08 – 05/10/08 3,675 22 Comoros 25/02/07 – 13/08/07 >800 14 Ghana 01/01/07 - 31/12/07 179 18 Middle East Iraq 12/11/08 738 8 Iran 06/10/07 96 4 Asia India 01/10/08 732 2 Indonesia 30/07/08   172 Philippine 06/08/08 110 29 Thailand 01/01/08 - 10/10/08 201 2 Vietnam 25/08/08 722   Cambodia 　 　 　 Malaysia 25/04/08 6   Nepal 01/01/07 - 31/12/07 264 0 Myanmar 04/03/08 61   Laos 28/01/08 364 3 Japan 01/01/08 - 02/11/08 45   China 01/06/08 – 31/10/08 120 0 South Korea 01/01/05 – 14/08/05 4* – Russia 09/05 1* 　 Singapore 01/01/08 – 08/11/08 1* 0 HK SAR 01/01/08 – 13/10/08 5 0 Taiwan 01/01/08 – 08/10/08 1 0 Bangladesh 25/04/08 4,268 2 America USA 01/01/08 – 25/10/08 1 0 Europe Switzerland 20/06/06 1 0   United Kingdom 01/01/08 – 31/10/08 32 0 Oceania Australia 01/01/08 – 12/11/08 3 0 Disclaimer The information provided by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("the Government") on this website is for reference only. Whilst the Government endeavors to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, no expressed or implied warranty is given by the Government as to the accuracy of the information. Updating in this web site is carried out as soon as new information is available. However, there is no warranty or responsibility of any kind on providing accurate information and data at a particular point of time. The Government shall not be liable for any claim, loss or damage incurred in relation to or as a result of the use of the information on the website. * Imported case