What is Cholera and how do you get it? Cholera is a common bacterial disease that infects the intestinal tract. The bacteria lives in animal and human intestines and are shed through faeces which can cause severe diarrhoea, dehydration, vomiting, death and other if untreated on time.

How is Cholera spread? Humans become infected most frequently through contaminated water or food, containing the bacteria (can also be transferred by flies), spread in places with inadequate water treatment, hygiene and poor sanitation, Municipal water supplies, Vegetables grown with water containing human wastes and Raw or undercooked food caught in waters polluted with sewage.

Symptoms of Cholera: The incubation period ranges from several hours to two days. Signs and symptoms generally last two to seven days.

Possible signs and symptoms include:

Nausea

Vomiting

Abdominal cramps

Diarrhoea

Fever

Headache

Blood in stool

Is Cholera treatable? Cholera is treated by administration of oral rehydration salts to replace lost fluids and electrolytes using a simple rehydration solution, oral rehydration salts (ORS). The ORS solution is available as a powder that can be reconstituted in boiled or bottled water.

Prevention:

1. Drink and use safe water. Always store your treated water in a clean, covered container.

2. Wash your hands often with soap and clean water: before preparing food, eating food, after going to toilet.

3. Try as much as possible to use clean toilets and do not defecate in any open space .

4. Do not keep cooked and raw foods next to each other. Cook food thoroughly. Keep it covered and eat it hot. Thoroughly wash raw fruits and vegetables before eating.

5. Keep all cooking utensils and work surfaces clean

6. Beware of drinking untreated water from streams, rivers and lakes

7. Thoroughly clean toilet seats, toilet bowls, all handles in the bathroom, basins and taps after use with detergent or disinfectant, with hot water.

8. Regularly swap used dishcloths for clean ones.

9. Consider getting vaccinated, to prevent infection.

Stay Clean! Stay Healthy!