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A member asked:
How does cholera spread among humans?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 53 years experience
Contaminated water: Cholera bacteria are passed by swallowing them. Almost always it occurs when feces of infected people contaminates drinking water. With normal hygiene in the home and in your community, you are not at risk of cholera.
2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. JAYENDRA SHAH commented
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 59 years experience
WATER AND FOOD IS MOST COMMON SOURCE AND IT IS MORE PREVALENT IN POOR COUNTRIES OR POOR HYGIENE, OR WHERE THERE IS SOME NATURAL DISASTER. CHOLERA RELATED DIARRHEA AND DEHYDRATION HAVE KILLED MANY IN THE WORLD.
Nov 20, 2015
Dr. Hunter Handsfield commented
Infectious Disease 53 years experience
Provided original answer
Dr. Shah of course is correct about the worldwide implications of cholera and the inherently higher risk in parts of many developing countries. My comment about hygiene in the home and community is valid primarily for industrialized countries.
Nov 20, 2015
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 25 years experience
Cholera: Cholera is an acute bacterial infection of the small intestine caused by Vibrio cholerae which is spread in fecally contaminated food & water. Cholera is spread when feces infected by Vibrio cholerae contaminates water or food. Inadequately cooked seafood can be a cause. It is most often seen in areas with poor sanitation & deficient water treatments. Person to person transmission is rare.
654 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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