How fast can cholera kill?

Cholera can kill within 2-3 hours if severely dehydrated patients don't receive treatment. In a typical severe case, death occurs within 18 hours to several days without treatment. However, with proper rehydration, mortality drops below 1%. This makes rapid rehydration the key to survival—it's one of medicine's most dramatic and effective interventions.

What does cholera diarrhea look like?

Cholera causes profuse, painless, watery diarrhea described as 'rice-water stool'—gray, cloudy fluid with flecks of mucus. Patients can lose 10-20 liters per day (equivalent to losing 20% of body weight in hours). This rapid fluid loss causes severe dehydration: sunken eyes, dry mouth, muscle cramps, low blood pressure, shock, kidney failure, and death if untreated.

How is cholera transmitted?

Through fecal-oral route: drinking water or eating food contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. Sources include: untreated sewage contaminating water supplies, shellfish from contaminated water, raw/undercooked seafood, produce washed with contaminated water. Person-to-person spread is uncommon. Epidemics occur where sanitation collapses: natural disasters, refugee camps, areas without clean water.

Is there a vaccine for cholera?

Yes, but it's not routinely recommended. Oral cholera vaccines (Vaxchora, Dukoral, Shanchol) provide 65-85% protection for 6 months to 3 years. Used for travelers to active outbreak areas, humanitarian workers, and mass vaccination campaigns during epidemics. However, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene are far more effective at preventing cholera than vaccines.

Can cholera be treated?

Yes, highly effectively. Treatment is aggressive rehydration: oral rehydration solution (ORS) for mild-moderate cases, IV fluids for severe cases. Antibiotics (doxycycline, azithromycin) shorten illness duration and reduce fluid loss but are secondary to rehydration. With prompt treatment, mortality is <1%. Without treatment, mortality reaches 25-50% in severe cases.

Where does cholera occur?

Endemic in 47 countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Haiti. Outbreaks occur after natural disasters, in refugee camps, or where water/sanitation infrastructure collapses. Yemen's ongoing outbreak (started 2016) is the largest in modern history with over 2.5 million cases. Check live outbreak data above for current cholera activity worldwide.

Cholera

10 Épidémie Actives

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by contaminated water or food. It can kill within hours if untreated but is easily treatable with immediate rehydration. While rare in developed countries, cholera remains a major threat in areas with poor sanitation.

Pays Affectés

1,557

Cas Récents (30 j)

Épidémies Actives

27d ago

Dernière Mise à Jour

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Qu'est-ce que Cholera?

Cholera has caused seven pandemics since 1817, with the current pandemic beginning in 1961. The disease causes profuse watery diarrhea ('rice-water stool') and vomiting, leading to severe dehydration and death within hours if untreated. An estimated 2.9 million cases and 95,000 deaths occur annually worldwide. Simple oral rehydration solution (ORS) has a 99%+ success rate, making cholera one of the most preventable deaths.

Symptômes

Profuse watery diarrhea ('rice-water stool')
Vomiting
Rapid dehydration symptoms: extreme thirst, dry mucous membranes, sunken eyes
Muscle cramps (from electrolyte loss)
Low blood pressure and rapid heart rate
Shock and organ failure (if untreated)
Most cases are mild; 10-20% develop severe disease

Transmission

Fecal-oral route through contaminated water or food. Common sources: untreated water, raw/undercooked shellfish, produce washed with contaminated water. Person-to-person spread uncommon.

Période de Contagiosité : While bacteria are in stool (typically 7-14 days after recovery); requires contaminated water/food to spread

Prévention

Drink only safe water (boiled, bottled, or treated with chlorine/iodine)
Eat only thoroughly cooked food served hot
Avoid raw/undercooked seafood and shellfish
Peel fruits and vegetables yourself
Wash hands with soap and safe water before eating and after bathroom
Oral cholera vaccine for high-risk travel or outbreak response
Proper sanitation and sewage treatment (community-level)
WASH programs (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) in at-risk areas
Avoid ice unless made from safe water

Live Cholera Global Case Map

10 countries with reported activity. Updated from real-time surveillance data.

No reports

Namibia 2026-07-17

Actif

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has officially declared the cholera outbreak in the Grootfontein and Opuwo health districts over after more than 28 days without any confirmed cases. Health minister Esperance Luvindao made the announcement in a public notice issued last Thursday, saying the outbreak had been contained in line with international public health standards. "With more than 28 days of zero confirmed cholera cases reported to date (the required monitoring period), and in accordance with epidemiological best practice, the ministry hereby informs the public that we have contained the cholera outbreak in both districts. "Therefore, as per the International Health Regulations (2005), I hereby declare the end of the cholera outbreak in Namibia," Luvindao said. The ministry d...
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146 0

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Cholera, Central African Republic

Central African Republic 2026-06-28

Actif

In June 2026, the Central African Republic (CAR) declared its fifth cholera outbreak in Bimbo and M'baiki districts southwest of Bangui.

Source: BEACON - View Full Report

92 0

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Cholera, Taiwan

Taiwan 2026-06-24

Actif

Taiwan confirmed its first locally acquired cholera case since 2023, involving a woman in her 70s in southern Taiwan with no travel history. The patient developed severe gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms in early June and has since recovered following hospitalization. Laboratory testing identified toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 (Hikojima serotype). The source remains under investigation.

Source: BEACON - View Full Report

87 0

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Cholera Kills Hundreds in Sudan Detention Centers Amid Conflict

Sudan 2026-04-29

Actif

This event envelope contains reports on cholera in Sudan.

Source: BEACON - View Full Report

42 0

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Ressources Expertes et Références

Informations fiables provenant des principales organisations de santé

CDC

Directives officielles des Centers for Disease Control and Prevention des États-Unis

Voir les Ressources du CDC →

WHO

Surveillance mondiale des maladies et directives de l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé

Voir les Ressources de l'OMS →

Recherche

Dernières recherches évaluées par les pairs et études cliniques

Voir la Recherche →

Contenu Révisé Médicalement

Les informations sur les maladies sur Virus Watcher sont révisées par notre Épidémiologiste en Chef, ancien analyste principal du CDC pour les prévisions FluSight. Les données épidémiques sont agrégées à partir de sources vérifiées notamment BEACON, ProMED, OMS, CDC et plus de 50 agences nationales de santé. Ces informations sont à des fins éducatives et ne doivent pas remplacer les conseils médicaux professionnels.

Dernière révision : 2026-08-13

Questions Fréquemment Posées

Questions fréquentes sur Cholera répondues par notre équipe d'épidémiologie

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