Cholera

Cholera is an acute infection of the intestine that causes profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. It is caused by consuming water or food contaminated by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which is found in feces. In 1854 the Englishman John Snow proved that cholera is transmitted in contaminated water when he stopped an epidemic by removing the pump handle from a well that he suspected was the source of infection. The last epidemic in Britain was in Cleethorpes in 1879.Today the disease is largely restricted to the tropics. Prevention is achieved by the availability of clean water supply. Vaccination –two injections at an interval of two to four Vaccination –is effective for six to nine months, after which booster doses are needed.