Worldwide, there may be as many as
5 million cases of cholera per year
Cholera is transmitted by eating food (including raw or under-cooked shellfish, and raw, unpeeled fruits and vegetables) or drinking water that is contaminated with cholera bacteria.
Although there are many types (serogroups) of the cholera bacterium (officially known as Vibrio cholerae, or V. cholerae for short), all recent outbreaks of the disease have been caused by just one serogroup: V. cholerae O1.
Cholera transmission is closely linked to not having access to clean water or sanitation facilities. Natural disasters, climate change, and population mobility all play a role in cholera outbreaks.
How can cholera affect you?
Most people who are infected with cholera bacteria do not develop any symptoms. However, once someone is infected with the bacteria, they shed it into the environment in their feces for 1–10 days, potentially infecting other people in the process.
Cholera is a diarrheal disease. For the majority of people who develop symptoms, they are mild to moderate and begin between 12 hours and 5 days after ingesting the bacteria.
In its severest form, cholera causes acute watery diarrhea and dehydration. If left untreated, this can kill within hours.
Cholera symptoms can disrupt your travel
Symptoms of mild
to moderate diarrhea
- A few to less than 10 loose, watery stools per day
Symptoms of
severe cholera
- Potentially severe diarrhea
(10 or more loose watery stools per day) - Vomiting
- Leg cramps
- Dehydration
with adequate treatment, that number drops to less than 1%.
Preventing cholera
Measures travellers can take to help protect themselves from cholera include:
- Oral vacccination
- Washing hands with soap
- Drinking treated water
- Only eating food that has been thoroughly cooked and is still hot/steaming
- Only peeling fruits/vegetables yourself after washing them in safe water, and avoiding those that can’t be washed safely, peeled, or cooked
- Avoiding raw/undercooked seafood and shellfish
Countries where cholera
is present
Cholera is endemic (present and/or regularly occurring) in many countries around the world. The WHO estimates there are approximately 3–5 million cases of cholera every year, with up to 120,000 deaths due to cholera.
Between January 1 and August 25, 2024, the WHO reported cholera cases and deaths due to cholera in 28 countries.
Adapted from External Situation Report no. 18, WHO, September 2024
and Centers for Disease Control and Travelers’ Health, CDC, accessed November 2024.
Travellers to countries where cholera is endemic may be at risk of exposure to cholera.
More information about cholera
WHO: World Health Organization
VAXCHORA is a single-dose oral vaccine that helps protect people aged 2–64 from cholera. VAXCHORA should be taken at least 10 days before travelling to an area where there is a risk of diarrhea caused by cholera.
VAXCHORA is effective against the most common serogroup of cholera (O1) but is not effective against uncommon serogroups such as O139. Immunization may not be suitable for everyone and can be associated with adverse events. 100% protection cannot be guaranteed. VAXCHORA is not a treatment for cholera or its complications. The vaccine should not replace standard preventive measures such as handwashing and avoiding potentially contaminated food and water.