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Cholera: What you need to know and do
To protect yourself and family
What is Cholera?
Cholera is a dangerous disease caused by germs. It causes sudden and continuous passing of watery stool and sometimes vomiting. This leads to rapid loss of water and salts from the body making the
person generally weak.
Cholera can lead to death within 3 to 4 hours if a person is not treated quickly.
How is Cholera spread?
The Cholera germ is spread through faeces or vomit of someone suffering from Cholera. A person gets Cholera from drinking water, juices and other fluids or eating food which are contaminated with Cholera germs.
Cholera can also be spread through:
- Drinking untreated or unboiled water from rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and unprotected springs.
- Eating cold food, which is exposed to dust, flies and cockroaches.
- Not washing hands with soap and water after using the latrine or cleaning a baby’s bottom.
- Eating unwashed fruits and vegetables.
- Serving food and drinks in dirty containers.
- Keeping drinking water in dirty containers.
- Poor disposal of faeces.
- Open rubbish in compounds which attracts flies and cockroaches.
What are the signs and symptoms of Cholera?
A person suffering from Cholera develops the following:
- Frequent passing of excessive amounts of watery stool.
- Vomiting.
- General body weakness due to excessive loss of water.
- Feeling thirsty and stops urinating due to reduced body fluids.
How do you manage a person suffering from Cholera?
- When a person develops signs and symptoms, immediately start giving him or her Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) or other fluids at home.
- Dispose of faeces including children’s into a latrine.
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Clean all soiled items with plenty of water, soap and Jik.
- Take a person suffering from Cholera for treatment to the health facility as soon as possible and (while on the way to the health facility) continue giving fluids (ORS).