The island of Comoros is now reporting Cholera. This latest African outbreak started 2 years ago and now affects 18 countries. Six are categorized as in acute crisis (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe).
More than 320,000 cases and almost 6000 deaths have been reported to the WHO Regional Office for Africa since January 2022. Seasonality can have a major impact on the disease. The rainy season in the southern region is seeing a surge in numbers.
What is cholera?
Cholera is a serious bacterial disease which can profuse diarrhoea leading to dehydration and death.
How is cholera transmitted?
The disease is transmitted by ingesting contaminated water or food (particularly seafood).
Who is at risk of cholera?
Cholera is a disease of poverty. It is commonly reported in low and low middle-income countries where public health infrastructure is underfunded. Access to clean water is often an issue particularly during natural events like flooding. It can also result from humanitarian crises with the displacement of people into crowded camps with poor sanitation and limited clean water.
How is cholera prevented?
Prevention and control can be achieved through access to clean water and adequate sanitation.
The risk to travellers is low if the rules of eating and drinking safely are followed.
A number of vaccines for cholera are also available.
Cholera is a notifiable disease in Australia.
Three cases have been reported in the last 12 months. These would have been contracted overseas.
Did you know?
In 1854 an obstetrician named John Snow investigated an outbreak of cholera near Soho in London. He found that most of the deaths occurred in families that used a particular pump for water. He suggested the drinking water from this source was contaminated. The pump handle was removed and magically the outbreak ceased.
It is believed that Florence Nightingale attended many of the victims in Middlesex hospital at the time.
Snow’s work contributed greatly to the germ theory of disease causation.
The Broad Street pump still stands as a memorial to John Snow.
