Cholera disease is a sickness that has largely been forgotten. It appears to garner notice only during times of a terrifying outbreak. Since 2010, the disease has received a lot of attention as a result of a cholera outbreak in Haiti.
Should all travellers, however, be concerned about cholera? Should you even bother preparing for the disease if you're not going to Haiti?
Few countries are now dealing with such a tenacious cholera outbreak. You should be able to avoid cholera by being cautious about what you drink and avoiding sick individuals abroad, right?
Unfortunately, cholera spreads quickly. You might not even be able to identify a cholera sick person. The illness is well-known for causing vomiting, diarrhoea, and leg cramps. Fluid loss can zap a person's vigour and render them as pallid as a ghost.
Those symptoms are easy to recognise, but they only appear in 5-10% of persons who have the infection. Most persons who are infected with the cholera bacterium are unaware of it. They will exhibit no symptoms and will pass the infection within a few weeks.
However, even if no symptoms are present, a person can spread cholera. This is one of the many causes of the current disease outbreak in Haiti.
Following the country's terrible earthquake in 2010, peacekeepers from around the world arrived to assist with relief efforts. A group of these Nepalese peacekeepers travelled while sick with cholera. The peacekeepers, unaware of their sickness, spread the disease and caused an epidemic.
Unfortunately, faeces are frequently the culprit. This is why poor countries are so vulnerable to cholera. Locals and visitors may have difficulty finding a functional toilet. The earthquake in Haiti closed highways and wrecked infrastructure. Yemen's current outbreak occurs during a civil war. Many of the country's health-care institutions are inoperable. As a result, locals have few bathroom options. They frequently have to do this outside of a water supply.
Even a small amount of contaminated faeces can cause cholera. The sickness spreads, and the situation in the country does not improve. Locals not only lack access to a working bathroom, but also to medical care. Both Haiti and Yemen are currently in an easy position to transmit the disease due to natural disasters and war. However, cholera may be an issue in any country, not just those in conflict.
Transmission zones exist in some of the world's most prominent tourist locations. The CDC reports that cholera is present in India, Thailand, Tanzania, and Ghana. Even after obtaining the vaccine, there are still steps you may take to ensure you return home cholera-free.
Avoid all non-bottled water unless you know it has been boiled or disinfected. This includes ice, which is commonly used in the spread of cholera.
Avoid eating uncooked foods. Heat, like water, has the ability to kill hazardous microorganisms. Any food that has been cooked lately is your best bet.
Swim with caution in open bodies of water. Some folks may have resorted to doing this outside and near the water if there are no restrooms nearby. Swimming in feces infested water is bad enough, but the risk of cholera makes it far worse.
Determine the location of the nearest medical facility. Overpopulated areas located distant from these facilities are most susceptible to an outbreak.
The main method of cholera treatment is hydration via oral or intravenous means. Treatment with antibiotics is advised for seriously unwell patients, along with fluids. Additionally, it is advised for patients who are receiving rehydration therapy but are still passing a lot of stool due to severe or mild dehydration.
A doctor can prescribe an antibiotic to help shorten the illness or relieve dehydration.
