The last decade has been characterized by ongoing large epidemics and outbreaks of cholera in the countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the introduction of infection into neighboring countries, as well as into the USA, Canada, and European countries. According to media reports, a cholera epidemic has now broken out in Mexico for the first time in 12 years, where 159 cases of the disease have been reported and the causes of the spread of the infection are being investigated.
Cholera is a dangerous infectious disease that, if not treated promptly, can lead to the death of the patient.
Its characteristic features are: the ability to spread epidemically, general intoxication and severe dehydration of the body with loss of salts (from severe diarrhea and vomiting).
The source of infection is a person who is sick or a vibrio carrier. The vibrio enters the external environment with the patient’s feces or vomit. The causative agent of cholera can enter the human body through contaminated water, food, and dirty hands. You can also become infected with cholera by swimming in random, unfavorable bodies of water.
The incubation period of the disease, from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first clinical signs, ranges from several hours to 5 days.
Patients and people who were in contact with them are subject to mandatory hospitalization for examination and preventive treatment.
The main measures to prevent cholera are maintaining personal hygiene and drinking guaranteed quality food and water. This is especially important when going on vacation to cholera-prone regions of Russia or foreign countries, where you can actually encounter this disease.
At the same time, it is important to check with tour operators about the cholera situation in the country of your planned stay. The problem of preventing cholera is still relevant due to its wide distribution across countries and continents, as well as the constant threat of its import into the territory of our country.
The main measure to protect the population from the threat posed by cholera patients and vibrio carriers is the mandatory observance of basic hygiene rules:
wash your hands thoroughly with soap before eating and preparing food, and after visiting the toilet;
drink only boiled or bottled water;
After washing vegetables and fruits with running water, be sure to rinse them with boiling water;
refrain from using ice to cool various drinks;
exclude purchases of products from random persons;
swim only in bodies of water permitted for organized recreation, and do not swallow water when swimming.
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