Cholera Group Overview Cholera • • • Infection of the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae • Cholera can be endemic, epidemic, or pandemic Cholera is transmitted by the fecal-oral route About 75% of people infected with V cholerae not develop any symptoms, although the bacteria are present in their faces for 7–14 days after infection and are shed back into the environment, potentially infecting other people Click to edit Master text styles Second level Third level Fourth level Fifth level Foods Small fish Shellfish Feces m Consu ed in ink r D r ate w g Phytoplankton s Con um e d Accumulated Zooplankton Vibrio cholerae El Nino 1991 Treatment - Prevention Treatment • The disease is treated using oral rehydration therapy (ORT), which consists of large volumes of water mixed with a blend of sugar and salts Prevention • “Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it” • Wash hands with soap and water frequently Reference • • • • http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/warmup/cholera/cholera_f.html http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs107/en/ http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/travel_medicine/cho lera_85,P01422/ http://www.who.int/gho/epidemic_diseases/cholera/situation_trends_cases/en/