Why is cholera deadly

If left untreated, cholera can be fatal in a matter of hours, according to the Mayo Clinic. The current outbreak in Haiti has infected more than 1, people, Haitian medical officials told news sources. The bacterial disease is spread by water and food that has been contaminated by the Vibrio cholera bacterium.

Modern sewage and water treatments have made cholera outbreaks a thing of the past in industrialized countries, according to the Mayo Clinic. The last major cholera outbreak in the United States occurred in , when cholera-infected vessels arrived in New York City ports and spread the deadly disease.

The outbreak killed 11 people, as health authorities managed to quarantine those infected at a hospital on Swinburne Island, a small, man-made island in the Lower New York Bay, according to U. Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. People can get sick when they swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening.

About 1 in 10 people with cholera will experience severe symptoms, which, in the early stages, include:. Health care providers should look for signs of dehydration when examining a patient with profuse watery diarrhea.

These include:. People with severe cholera can develop severe dehydration, which can lead to kidney failure. If left untreated , severe dehydration can lead to shock, coma, and death within hours. The profuse diarrhea produced by cholera patients contains large amounts of the infectious Vibrio cholerae germ that can infect others if swallowed.

These are Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol. Dukoral needs to be taken with clean water, and it provides roughly 65 percent protection for 2 years. Shanchol and Euvichol do not need to be taken with water, and they provide 65 percent protection for 5 years. All the vaccines offer higher protection nearer to the time they are given. Wide-spreading epidemics of cholera often occur due to water supplies that are contaminated with human waste and street food vendors.

The following people are also at risk of a more severe reaction to V. Typhoid is a bacterial infection that can be fatal if not treated quickly with antibiotics. The bacterium that causes it lives in the bloodstream and…. Diarrhea, which refers to unusually loose or watery stools, is a common problem with many potential causes. Several treatments can help. Learn more….

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Dysentery is an inflammation of the intestines, especially the colon. Symptoms include stomach cramps and diarrhea with blood or mucus in the feces…. Viral gastroenteritis can cause vomiting and diarrhea. The main goal of treatment in adults and children is maintaining hydration. Everything you need to know about cholera. What is cholera? Share on Pinterest Diarrhea is the key symptom of cholera.

Share on Pinterest Cholera is more common where there is overcrowding and poor sanitation. Share on Pinterest Handwashing is important to prevent the spread of disease. Risk factors. Latest news Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3.