Cholera Alert!!

Bengaluru, January 09, 2018: The recent news on Cholera outbreak in specific areas has put the residents of Bangalore on a high alert. Public awareness concerning the spread of disease can help curb cholera. Precautions and timely treatment is very important to control an outbreak.

Symptoms of cholera:

· Profuse watery diarrhoea

· Vomiting

· Leg cramps and associated symptoms due to dehydration

· Cholera can cause death due to dehydration within hours if not treated properly.

How is cholera spread?

· Cholera is a caused by a bacterium called Vibrio Choleraepresent in contaminated water and food

· Cholera does not spread directly from one person to another. It is only spread via faecal contamination of water sources and food.

· Cholera has a short incubation period from a few hours to around 5 days.

· Around 75% of people carrying the cholera infection may not show any symptoms but shed the bacterium in their faeces/stools across 7 to 14 days causing infection to other individuals.

The following simple steps can protect you and your family from cholera:

· Drink and use safe water.

· Safe water is water that is bottled with an unbroken seal or water that has been boiled or treated via chlorine or other means.

· Safe water should also be stored in clean covered containers.

· Wash hands often with soap and safe water.

· Cook food well. Keep all food items covered.

· Always wash hands after using a latrine and before preparing any food.

· Do not defecate in the open or near any water body. Bury the faeces or use a latrine.

Treatment for cholera:

· First ensure patient is sufficiently hydrated via an Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) solution. In severe case, intravenous fluids will be needed

· Appropriate antibiotics will be prescribed by your Doctor to shorten the duration of the disease

· If any person presents with any of the cholera symptoms listed above, then they must immediately go to the nearest hospital or PHC.