By: Tasha Patterson

Description Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is a water-borne bacterium shaped like a comma. Cholera bacterium is usually found in water or food sources that have been contaminated by feces (poop) from a person infected with cholera.

Transmission Direct person-to-person transmission of the disease is rare, but infected person can spread cholera Indirectly. Cholera bacteria travel by oral-fecal routes; that is, they enter the body by the mouth and leave the body in feces. When an infected person excretes waste into a communal water supply or handles food without washing hand he introduces the bacteria into the water or food contaminating it.

Symptoms Vomiting Diarrhea- Dangerous loss in fluids Nausea- May happen for hours Dehydration- May lead electrolyte Electrolyte Imbalance- May lead to muscle cramps and shock. If not treated kidneys will shut down and death.

Risk Factors Drinking or eating food contaminated with cholera. Wash foods properly.

Testing & Treatment To test for cholera, doctors must take a stool sample or a rectal swab and send it to a laboratory to look for the cholera bacterium. Can be simply and successfully treat by immediate replacement of the fluids and salts lost though diarrhea. Can be treated with oral rehydration solution, a prepackage mixture of sugars and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts.

Prevention Drink and use safe water and wash your hands often with soap and safe water. Cook food well done especially seafood, and keep it cover, eat it while it is hot, and peel fruits and vegetables.

Statistics Since 2000, the incidence of cholera has increased steadily, culminating in reported cases worldwide, including 7543 deaths, in 2010, with a case- fatality rate (CFR) of 2.38%. Globally, the number of deaths from cholera rose from 4948 in 2009 to 7543 in 2010,an increase of 52% with an overall CFR of 2.38%. In the Americas, Haiti reported 3990 deaths, accounting for 53% of the global total; these deaths occurred over a period of 70 days.

Affect Developing Nation- the disease does not rally mess with the developing does not have a high risk of the disease. Developing Nation- Has a very high chance that the disease will come back because it is where the disease started

Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, A.A February 24, 2011, General Information, January 5, 2013 Stephanie True Peters, 2004, Cholera curse of the nineteenth century, Marshall Cavendish Corporation