Cholera

Cholera is an infection of the intestines caused by bacteria. Most cases are mild and are similar to other types of travellers’ diarrhoea. Severe cases are rare in travellers.

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Symptoms

Diarrhoea – which can be very watery, sometimes with vomiting and fever.

How do you catch Cholera ?
Cholera is usually spread by drinking contaminated water and commonly occurs following natural disasters or in refugee camps.

Incubation period
2 – 5 days

Diagnosis
The diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory testing of a stool specimen.

Prevention
The risk of catching cholera can be reduced by only drinking safe water and through good personal hygiene. Avoiding raw or undercooked seafood will also reduce the risk.

Treatment
Drinking plenty of fluids is necessary to prevent dehydration. In serious cases antibiotics may be needed.

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An oral vaccine is available.

Level of protection: ~ 85%

Protection duration: 2 years.

How is it given: 2 doses 1 to 6 weeks apart, 3 doses for young children

Ideally start: At least 2 weeks before travel.

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Did you know?

  • Outbreaks of cholera occur where sanitation facilities are poor or damaged, so aid workers are at more risk than most other travellers.
  • Catching cholera from another person is rare.
  • Unlike most vaccines, the cholera vaccine is taken by mouth.

Clinical Oversight By:

Professor David Ross

Professor David Ross OStJ

Medical Director, MASTA

PhD MSc MBBS MRCGP FRCPCH FFPH FFTM RCPS(Glasg.) FRCP(Glasg.)

GMC No. 3115417

Professor David Ross OStJ is the Medical Director of MASTA and has been associated with MASTA since 2005. He served 41 years in the Army, including over 10 years as senior advisor on public health to the UK Surgeon General. In 2012 he was appointed the Parkes Professor of Preventive Medicine, in 2014 an Honorary Queen’s Physician and in 2023 an Officer in the Order of St John.

Professor David Ross

Professor David Ross OStJ

Medical Director, MASTA

PhD MSc MBBS MRCGP FRCPCH FFPH FFTM RCPS(Glasg.) FRCP(Glasg.)

GMC No. 3115417

Professor David Ross is the Medical Director at MASTA and has been associated with the company since 2005. He was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1983 and graduated in medicine from St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London in 1986. In 2012 he was appointed the Parkes Professor of Preventive Medicine, in 2014 an Honorary Queen’s Physician and in 2023 an Officer in the Order of St John. He was the senior advisor on public health from 2012–2023 to the UK Surgeon General. He retired from the Army in October 2024, after 41 years active service.

Professor David Ross was Director of Education, Honorary Secretary, and Vice Dean before becoming Dean of the Faculty of Travel Medicine, Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons (Glasgow) in October 2024. Recent travel medicine research interests have included malaria prevention and tuberculosis screening. He was Chief Examiner of the Diploma of Medicine in Conflict & Catastrophes at the Society of Apothecaries until 2024, is Chair of the Final UK MFPH and an Examiner at the UK Faculty of Public Health.

The last few years of his military working life were dominated by supporting the international and national public health response to COVID-19, where he managed many large COVID outbreaks both overseas and in the UK. David also led research into risk factors for mental ill health in the UK Army and for this was awarded a PhD by the University of Glasgow in 2024.