Cholera Prevention
Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholera. The disease often results in severe dehydration and can be fatal if not treated. Cholera can be prevented by ensuring good hygiene and safe food handling practices and promptly treating any cases.
Vaccination against cholera is available but is not routinely recommended for most people. However, certain high-risk groups may benefit from vaccination, including aid workers, people traveling to areas where cholera is common, and people living in areas where cholera outbreaks have occurred.
Prompt treatment of cholera is essential for preventing severe health complications. Rehydration therapy, which replaces lost fluids and electrolytes, is the mainstay of treatment. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to help fight the infection.
Cholera is a severe disease that can lead to death if not treated promptly. However, it can be prevented by ensuring good hygiene and safe food handling practices and swiftly treating any cases. Vaccination against cholera is available but is not routinely recommended for most people.
However, certain high-risk groups may benefit from vaccination, including aid workers, people traveling to areas where cholera is common, and people living in areas where cholera outbreaks have occurred.
Prompt treatment of cholera is essential for preventing severe health complications. Rehydration therapy, which replaces lost fluids and electrolytes, is the mainstay of treatment. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to help fight the infection.
There are several ways to prevent cholera:
Good hygiene and safe food handling practices:
Cholera is spread through contact with fecal matter. Therefore, ensuring good hygiene and safe food handling practices can help reduce the risk of exposure. This includes washing hands thoroughly, cooking food properly, and avoiding contaminated surfaces.
Prompt treatment of any cases that occur:
immediate treatment of cholera is essential for preventing severe health complications. Rehydration therapy, which replaces lost fluids and electrolytes, is the mainstay of treatment. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to help fight the infection.
Vaccination against cholera:
vaccination against cholera is available but is not routinely recommended for most people. However, certain high-risk groups may benefit from vaccination, including aid workers, people traveling to areas where cholera is common, and people living in areas where cholera outbreaks have occurred.
Good hygiene and safe food handling practices are essential for preventing cholera. This includes washing hands thoroughly, cooking food properly, and avoiding contaminated surfaces. Prompt treatment of any cases is also critical for preventing severe health complications.
cholera treatment:
There are a variety of treatments for cholera that are available. However, one of the essential things to hydrate is the person suffering from cholera. This can be done by giving them water or oral rehydration solutions.
If the person is vomiting, they will need to be given fluids through an IV. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to help treat the infection. If the person has a severe case of cholera, they may need to be hospitalized to receive treatment.
It is essential to seek medical attention if you think you may have cholera. Early diagnosis and treatment are vital in preventing serious health complications. Cholera can sometimes be fatal. It is estimated that over 100,000 people die each year due to cholera [1].
Protocols should be developed and implemented to manage cholera cases in healthcare facilities.
DHMT: Chlorine solution (0.5%) must be prepared and used for all procedures related to BPAT. Chlorine solution can be purchased from local Pharmacies or Medical Stores where available.
The current approach towards managing patients suspected to have cholera at home is mainly symptomatic treatment with Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and maintenance hydration orally or via IV drip if oral intake is not possible. In rare cases when the person is in an awful state, hospital admission may be required.
There is, however, no standardized management protocol for healthcare facilities. A WHO manual on the management of cholera was published in 2013. Still, it does not provide specific instructions for health care workers on managing patients with cholera in health care facilities.
A draft national policy guideline on cholera is currently under development. It is expected to provide more detail on the management of cholera cases in all settings, including hospitals. In the meantime, healthcare workers are advised to follow standard infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe food and water handling practices, and proper waste disposal.
Ten ways to prevent cholera:
1. Practice good hygiene habits.
2. Drink safe water.
3. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
4. Cook food properly.
5. Avoid eating raw or undercooked food.
6. Avoid contact with people who are sick.
7. Get vaccinated against cholera.
8. Dispose of waste properly.
9. Use safe water for cleaning and bathing purposes.
10. If you are traveling to an area where cholera occurs, take precautions to avoid getting sick.
1. Practice good hygiene habits:
Good hygiene practices help prevent many infectious diseases such as cholera. Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol to clean your hands.
2. Drink safe water:
Only drink bottled or boiled water – never raw water (untreated, unboiled water). Untreated and unboiled water can contain organisms that cause diarrheal diseases like cholera. It may also be contaminated with other organisms associated with skin rashes (e.g., scabies) and eye infections (e.g., conjunctivitis).
3. Wash your hands often with soap and water:
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can rapidly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations. Still, sanitizers do NOT eliminate all microorganisms (germs) and are not a substitute for washing with soap and water.
4. Cook food properly
5. Avoid eating raw or undercooked food. Never eat raw vegetables or fruits unless you have washed them in safe (boiled) water or peeled them; Be careful about how you prepare food – always wash utensils, cutting boards, sinks, cloths, and counters after preparing raw meat, poultry, fish or eggs;
6. Avoid contact with people who are sick:
If you are not feeling well, stay away from work, school, or other activities until you fully recover. Do not share food or drinks with anyone, and always wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet.
7. Get vaccinated against cholera:
There is a vaccine available for cholera. It is given as an injection (shot) and protects for about two years.
8. Dispose of waste properly:
Put garbage in covered cans to avoid attracting flies and other insects that can spread disease; Burn solid waste if possible; Flush toilets only when necessary and use plenty of water; if possible, use water disinfectant (e.g., household bleach) or pour 5-10 cm of water into the pit after each flush; Keep fresh water supplied in your house at all times, to discourage mosquitoes from breeding
cholera prevention and control:
To prevent cholera, people should also practice good personal hygiene. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol to clean the hands. Washing hands with soap and safe (boiled) water is one of the most effective ways of preventing diarrhea disease.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can rapidly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations. Still, sanitizers do NOT eliminate all microorganisms (germs) and are not a substitute for washing with soap and water.