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Disease information

Virus or bacteria

Cholera is an intestinal infection. It is caused by with Vibrio cholerae bacteria.

How it spreads

• It is spread by food or water that is contaminated with the feces of an infected person.
• Consuming contaminated shellfish can also cause infection if it is not cooked properly.

Cholera spreads through contaminated food or water; it does not spread from person to person.

Symptoms

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Irritability
• Rapid heart rate
• Thirst

Typical disease timeline

Cholera lasts about one day to one week if no complications are experienced.

Possible complications

• Kidney failure
• Dehydration
• Coma
• Death

Other things to know

• People can become infected after swimming in contaminated fresh water or salt water.
• People in areas experiencing humanitarian crises are at greater risk because cholera can spread more easily.
• Most people with cholera do not have symptoms. But, some people infected with cholera can become dehydrated so quickly that they die within hours of having symptoms.

Vaccine information

The cholera vaccine is used to prevent cholera infection.

Vaccine type

• Live, “weakened” vaccines

Vaccine side effects

Common

• Nausea, vomiting (18 of 100 recipients)
• Diarrhea (4 of 100 recipients)

Rare

• None 

Very rare

• Serious allergic reaction (fewer than 1 of 1,000,000 recipients)

Other things to know

Precautions for protecting yourself from cholera include:

• Consume clean water
• Wash hands with soap and clean water
• Use latrines with sanitation systems for disposal of feces
• Cook food well
• Keep washing and sanitation areas separate from cooking areas

When this vaccine may be necessary

Most travelers do not need the cholera vaccine. Please consult a with a travel medicine expert before traveling.