Cholera 101: What You Need To Know

Treatment And Prevention

Thankfully, there is a cholera vaccination for individuals who are at risk of contracting the bacterial disease. However, it has proven to be ineffective in about fifty percent of patients who receive the shot, and it does not last more than a few months. Regardless, an individual can still protect themselves if they are in a region known for cholera outbreaks by boiling the water before drinking or simply consuming bottled water instead. When dealing with a cholera outbreak, individuals are advised to use bottled water or boiled water for drinking, brushing their teeth, cooking, bathing, and washing themselves or household items such as dishes and laundry, and for rinsing fruits and vegetables.

Individuals can further prevent becoming infected or spreading cholera by not eating the peels of certain fruits and vegetables that might have been ineffectively washed and by not eating any raw shellfish. If an individual has contracted cholera, to help with dehydration, a physician will administer intravenous (IV) fluids and antibiotics, which will greatly help alleviate serious symptoms.

Finally, learn who is at the highest risk of contracting cholera and why.