Cholera cases

03 Oct 2023 3 mins Download PDF

Cholera cases

1. Cholera is a water-borne disease affecting the small intestine of a person, which can be diagnosed by a stool test or a rapid dipstick test.
2. It is caused by two strains of the bacteria Vibrio cholerae called O1 and O139.
3. While O1 is responsible for almost all outbreaks, outbreaks of O139 have been rare and none recorded outside Asia so far. 
4. WHO report: The world reported more than twice as many cholera cases in 2022 as it did in 2021.
5. WHO has set the target to reduce the number of cholera deaths worldwide by 90% by 2030.
6. The spread of cholera is closely linked to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities, and other sources include undercooked shellfish.
7. Vibrio cholerae bacteria also favour warmer waters with lower salinity, which gets intensified due to Climate change related events.
8. Vibrio pathogens have a unique ability to ‘stick’ to microplastics.
9. Nigeria had a large cholera outbreak that accounted for 78% of all cases in Africa.
10. Oral cholera vaccines such as Vaxchora, with a recommended two dosage can provide reasonable protection for about six months.