Introduction

Cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is an acute watery diarrheal syndrome. Descriptions of clinical illness consistent with cholera date back to antiquity. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the disease spread globally beyond Asia seven times, referred to as cholera pandemics. The first started in 1817 and subsequent pandemics began in 1829, 1852, 1863, 1881, 1889 and 1961, the last persisting until the present. The patterns of global spread have taken various forms, although most of Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas have been affected at one time or another.

Transmission

Cholera is spread through the fecal-oral route, either directly from person-to-person or indirectly through contaminated fluids from an environmental reservoir of varying duration, food and potentially flies and fomites. Endemic cholera has been found to be associated with tidal seawater intrusions and seasonal climatic patterns, whereas epidemic cholera often occurs near waterways when weather conditions are favorable for the growth of the bacteria. Persons with cholera infection excrete V. cholerae in their stool. The period of excretion may be as short as one day in asymptomatic infected contacts, whereas the stool of symptomatic patients may contain the bacteria before the illness and for up to 1–2 weeks. 

Human susceptibility

A variety of host factors influence human susceptibility to cholera. Gastric hypoacidity has been associated with the risk of cholera, an observation not unexpected in view of the well-known acid sensitivity of V. cholerae. Host diet and nutritional status also appear to influence susceptibility. Being non-breastfed places infants at considerably higher risk of cholera in endemic settings. Retinol deficiency has been suggested as a possible risk factor as well. Among microbial factors studied, HIV infection was noted in Mozambique to be associated with a higher occurrence of cholera, and features of the gut microbiome have been linked with the rate of recovery from cholera, though the risk of cholera imparted by the gut microbiome remains to be elucidated.

Prevention

• Be sure to use and drink safe water and boiling,
• Altering risky behaviours like poor eating
• Using toilets and
• Vaccination

What is expected from the Government and other concerned bodies?

Like any other contagious disease, cholera can be launched once as either endemic or pandemic. Henceforth, the government should make special disaster preparations for treatment. Apart from its treatment, the golden approach to tackling the disease is left in prevention. To do so, the government should initiate the community to provide related health education, easy and standby control chain from lowest to highest stakeholders should be established, especially in low-income countries like Africa.

Conclusion 

Even though cholera is highly contagious and its nature makes people with low economic levels more vulnerable group, it is pretty easy for everyone to prevent it through maintaining personal and household hygiene, as well as using vaccination.