Cholera is a bacterial infection transmitted by contaminated food and water. Cholera can cause severe watery diarrhoea although mild infections are common. Most travellers are at low risk.
Prevention
All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.
Cholera vaccination
In the United Kingdom, an oral (drink), inactivated cholera vaccine called Dukoral® is available and protects against V. cholerae serogroup O1. This vaccine is not needed by most travellers; it is recommended for those whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk, including:
- aid workers
- those going to areas of cholera outbreaks who have limited access to safe water and medical care.
- those for whom vaccination is considered potentially beneficial. (i.e. for those who do not fit into the above groups, but are still considered at higher risk)