What you need to know about cholera
Prevent the spread, know the symptoms and stay protected

Since the cholera outbreak was declared in Syria on 10 September 2022, thousands of cases of acute watery diarrhoea have been reported.
Both adults and children are at risk of contracting the disease, but children often bear the brunt of severe illness and death. Of the suspected cholera cases, 1 out of 4 are children under the age of five. When children get sick and their immune system weakens, they become more susceptible to malnutrition. Malnourished children are similarly at heightened risk of getting severely ill.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of inequity and lack of social development.
To keep children safe, UNICEF continues to invest in preventive measures and scale up a rapid response to curb the spread of the disease and limit its negative impacts. UNICEF is mobilizing health, water, hygiene, and sanitation supplies, and expertise in the affected governorates. Chlorination activities to disinfect water are being scaled up and dosing rates are being increased in fragile and highly vulnerable communities to curb the spread of the disease. Clean water is also being trucked to affected locations. UNICEF is also engaging with communities and sharing information about the causes, symptoms, and prevention of cholera.
UNICEF also continues its work to rehabilitate water and sanitation systems across the country and make health and nutrition services available to children as part of the efforts to address the root causes of the disease outbreak and give all children a fair chance to survive and thrive.
How to protect yourself

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water

Drink clean water

Collect waste in waste bags and place them in the relevant spot

Wash vegetables and fruits well before eating them and cook food well

Disinfect vegetables that are eaten raw with the available disinfectants

Disinfect surfaces, floors, furniture and toilets effectively with water and chlorine
Symptoms of cholera

General fatigue

Muscle spasms

Recurrent vomiting

Severe watery diarrhoea
Treating cholera

Immediately seek medical assistance if symptoms occur

Drink enough water and fluids

Use oral rehydration solution immediately and in quantities suitable to the severity of infection

Dissolve ½ tsp salt + 6 tsp sugar in 1 litre of clean water to make an oral rehydration solution
Washing fruit and vegetables

Scrub fruit and vegetables under clean running water

Preferably, use a brush to ensure dust, dirt and bacteria are removed

Rinse fruit and vegetables thoroughly with water after cleaning them with disinfectants

Soak vegetables that are eaten raw in disinfectants for about 10 minutes

Preferably, peel fruit and vegetables after washing and cleaning them
Washing hands

Step 1:
Wet hands with running water

Step 2:
Apply enough soap to cover wet hands

Step 3:
Scrub all surfaces of the hands, including back of hands

Step 4:
Scrub between fingers of the left hand

Step 5:
Scrub between fingers of the right hand

Step 6:
Scrub under nails

Step 7:
Rinse hands thoroughly with running water

Step 8:
Dry hands with a clean cloth or single-use towel

Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially:
- Before preparing food, eating, and caring for a child
- After using the toilet
- After caring for a patient