WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHOLERA

1. What is Cholera?

   Cholera is a diarrhoeal disease caused by a germ. The germ is found mostly in faeces and it spreads when a person drinks water or eats food that is contaminated with the cholera germ.

   2. What are the symptoms and signs of cholera?

   • Onset of cholera is sudden
   • Diarrhoea, which is profuse, painless and watery
   • Vomiting may occur
   • Patients are thirsty, tired and weak
   • Loss of body fluid occurs rapidly and that may lead to death

   3. How is Cholera Transmitted?

   The cholera germ is commonly spread by, contaminated fingers/hands, flies, water and food. Cholera transmission is from faecal matter to the mouth through the ingestion of:
   • Water contaminated with faeces, vomitus of patients and to lesser extent faeces of carriers
   • Contaminated foods (milk, cooked rice, beans, eggs seafood etc.)
   • Fruits and vegetables – especially those irrigated with waste-water (sewerage garden) and when contaminated fruits and vegetables are eaten raw.

   4. What are the sources of contamination?

   • Hands and bodies of asymptomatic cholera patients/carriers.
   • Contaminated articles (buckets, cups, cloths and clothes etc.)

   5. Prevention

   Protect yourself from getting cholera by observing the following:
   ❒ Wash your hands with soap under safe running water before eating, cooking or after visiting the toilet
   ❒ Drink safe water
   ❒ Eat hot  food  and avoid cold food
   ❒ Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating
   ❒ Food handlers should wash their cups, plates and cutlery sets with soap and safe water regularly before use
   ❒ Food handlers should cover food for sale.
   ❒ People with acute diarrhea should start drinking ORS and immediately visit the nearest health facility

Source:  Ministry of Health, Ghana