Niel Ingle 5-12-15
O.L.M Grade 8 Cholera Caused by Vibrio cholerae
Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholera. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe. Approximately 1-10 infected persons will have severe disease characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these people, rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours. Cholera is yellow in color.
The bacteria causes’ disease when a person drinks water or eats food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces of an infected person that contaminates water and/or food. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. The disease is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore, casual contact with an infected person is not a risk for becoming ill.
Five Facts about Cholera
There are an estimated 3-5 million cholera case and 100 000-120 000 deaths due to cholera every year. Up to 80% of cases can be successfully treated with oral rehydration salts. Effective control measures rely on prevention, preparedness and response. Provision of safe water and sanitation is critical in reducing the impact of cholera and other waterborne diseases. Oral cholera vaccines are considered an additional means to control cholera, but should not replace conventional control measures.

The spread of Cholera can be simply and successfully treated by immediate replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea. Patient can be treated with oral rehydration solution, a prepackaged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts. This solution is