Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by an infection with the bacterium
Vibrio cholerae, in the intestines. While cholera can be very serious, the infection is often mild or without symptoms. Although cholera can be life-threatening, it is easily prevented and treated.
Because of advanced water and sanitation systems, cholera is not a major threat in the United States. However, everyone, especially travelers, should be aware of how cholera is transmitted and what can be done to prevent it.
Since 1817, there have been seven worldwide cholera
pandemics. There is an ongoing pandemic in Asia, Africa, and Latin America that has spanned the past four decades. Since 1995, over 80 percent of reported cases of cholera have occurred in Africa.
Cholera has been very rare in industrialized nations for the last 100 years. In the United States, there are zero to 5 cases per year. Most cholera outbreaks in the United States have occurred due to contaminated shellfish in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico.
In 2003, 111,575 cholera cases from 45 countries were reported to the World Health Organization.
Cholera epidemics usually take place during summer and fall months. Cholera is more likely to occur in children than adults.
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