Cholera Outbreak | 15 Jun 2024

Why in News?

Recently, panic struck the town of Phoop in Bhind district after a sudden cholera outbreak, which reportedly resulted in three deaths and at least 70 people falling ill from drinking contaminated water.

Key Points

• Cholera, a water-borne disease primarily caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae strains O1 and O139, poses a significant public health challenge worldwide.
  • Strain O1 is the predominant cause of outbreaks, with O139 occurrences being rare and mostly confined to Asia.
• It is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine.
• The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes can be severe.
  • Symptoms include Profuse watery diarrhoea, Vomiting, Leg cramps.
• A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium.
  • The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.
• Currently, there are three WHO pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines (OCV): Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol-Plus. All three vaccines require two doses for full protection.
• A global roadmap to 2030, with a target to reduce cholera deaths by 90% was launched in 2017.