Cholera

Cholera is an acute infection cause by the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae. A Cholera infection can often be mild or without symptoms, on occasion however, the infection can be extremely severe. Symptoms characterized by a Cholera infection include:

• Watery diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Leg Cramps

On average only 1 in 20 Cholera cases show severe symptoms, in these cases rapid loss of body fluid can lead to dehydration and shock. If not treated, death can often occur within hours of dehydration.

Cholera is usually introduced to the body by eating or drinking from a contaminated source. This disease can be prevalent and spread rapidly in places without adequate sanitation. It can also be contracted by eating shellfish that have not been properly cleaned. An individual with casual contact with a person infected by Cholera is not a risk of infection as the disease does not spread easily from person to person.

The chances for becoming infected with Cholera can be reduced by observing these simple precautions:

• Only drink bottled water or water that has been boiled in your presence for longer than 60 seconds.
• Eat food that is still hot and peel fruit yourself before consumption or only wash in boiled water.
• Avoid eating salads and cold vegetables.
• Do not eat food from street vendors.

Cholera is a serious disease and in some cases may be fatal. If you are showing the above symptoms you should seek medical attention immediately.

Global medical alerts are always changing. Before traveling you should check for updated information on the countries you will be visiting. The Center for Disease Control maintains an updated travel advisory website at: http://www.cdc.gov/travel.

Some foreign health insurance plans cover the cost for vaccinations or medications to prevent Cholera; others will cover the medical costs of treatment in the unfortunate event the insured becomes infected. Please contact our advisers for more information.