MEDBOX Issue Brief 26. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated with the
bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera remains a global threat to public health and is an indicator of inequity and lack of
social development. Researchers have esti...mated that every year, there are 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera, and 21
000 to 143 000 deaths worldwide due to the infection.
However, cholera remains a neglected and underreported disease. Many cases are not recorded due to limitations in
surveillance systems and fears of potential impact on trade or tourism.
Today cholera affects 47 countries across the globe. Almost every developing country faces cholera outbreaks or
the threat of cholera. Major ongoing outbreaks are being reported from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Nigeria. Major outbreaks are currently in Syria and Haiti.
Therefore, MEDBOX decided to produce issue briefs on cholera and available resources in Arabic, English and
French.
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To better adapt current case management practices and address excess mortality in otherwise treatable
cases will require better knowledge of the demographic characteristics of the patients and comorbidities
which can make severe dehydration harder to tolerate physiologically. With this in mind, a ...scoping review
was undertaken, to explore the literature and summarise the existing evidence on cholera mortality and
reported risk factors.
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Le Groupe spécial mondial de lutte contre le choléra (GTFCC) a lancé Mettre fin au choléra : Une feuille de route mondiale pour 2030 (la Feuille de route mondiale. Cette stratégie vise à réduire de 90 % le nombre de décès dus au choléra dans le monde et à mettre fin à la maladie dans a...u moins 20 pays d’ici 2030. Elle est organisée selon trois axes principaux :
• assurer une détection et une réponse précoces pour contenir les épidémies
• adopter une approche multisectorielle pour prévenir et contrôler le choléra dans les
points chauds
• mettre en place un mécanisme de coordination efficace de l’appui technique, la
mobilisation des ressources et des partenariats aux niveaux local et mondial.
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For several years, agencies supporting preparedness and response to cholera outbreaks have supplied medicines and medical devices through the Interagency Diarrhoeal Disease Kits (IDDK).
In an effort to better align the presentation and content of the kits to field needs, the composition of the ch...olera kits has been reviewed by WHO and its partners in 2015 and again in 2020. The content of all modules have been slightly revised with no changes except for the cholera laboratory check list.
The revised cholera kits 2020 are designed to help prepare for a potential cholera outbreak and to support the first month of the initial response for 100 cases. The overall package consists of six different kits, each divided in several modules.
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The document provides a detailed overview of cholera, including its clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. It explains the causes of cholera, its symptoms such as severe diarrhea and dehydration, and the importance of rehydration therapy (oral or intravenous) to reduce mortality. T...he document also emphasizes public health measures, including access to clean water, proper sanitation, and vaccination, as essential strategies to control and prevent cholera outbreaks. It serves as a comprehensive resource for healthcare professionals managing cholera cases and outbreaks.
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The Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) launched Ending Cholera: A Global
Roadmap to 2030 (Global Roadmap) (1), a strategy that aims to reduce global cholera
deaths by 90% and eliminate the disease in at least 20 countries by 2030. It is
organized according to three main axes:
• E...nsuring early detection and response to contain outbreaks; (2)
• Adopting a multisectoral approach to prevent and control cholera in hotspots; and
• Establishing an effective coordination mechanism for technical support, resource
mobilization and partnership at local and global levels.
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The tippy tap is a hands free way to wash your hands that is especially appropriate for rural areas where there is no running water. It is operated by a foot lever and thus reduces the chance for bacteria transmission as the user touches only the soap. It uses only 40 millilitres of water to wash yo...ur hands versus 500 millilitres using a mug. Additionally, the used “waste” water can go to plants or back into the water table.
While the tippy tap is a great technology, it is just that – a technology. It is important to recognise that there is a difference between great technology and adoption of the technology. However, it is a great tool that can help kick start the conversation about hand washing with soap and help increase this behaviour. And it does so in a fun and easy manner that is especially appealing to children.
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The study on health facility preparedness for cholera outbreak response in Cameroon evaluates the ability of healthcare facilities in four cholera-prone districts to manage cholera outbreaks. The findings highlight significant weaknesses, including limited surveillance systems, inadequate access to ...water, poor sanitation, and lack of essential medical supplies such as Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and cholera case management guidelines. Many health facilities also lacked trained personnel and proper waste disposal systems, increasing the risk of disease spread within healthcare centers. The study underscores the urgent need for improved hygiene infrastructure, better training, and resource allocation to enhance outbreak response and reduce cholera-related mortality.
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The Zimbabwe Multi-Sectoral Cholera Elimination Plan (2018–2028) aims to eradicate cholera by improving water, sanitation, and healthcare infrastructure, strengthening disease surveillance, and expanding oral cholera vaccination (OCV). The strategy focuses on five pillars, including public health ...response, WASH, infrastructure, community empowerment, and financing. A multi-sectoral approach involving government, international organizations, and local communities targets cholera hotspots to prevent outbreaks and ensure long-term disease control.
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This document aims to provide guidance to countries in the identification of priority areas
for intervention as part of the Situational Analysis of their National Cholera Control or
Elimination Plans (NCPs).
Le présent document vise à fournir des indications aux pays pour identifier les zones
d’intervention prioritaires dans le cadre de l’analyse de la situation prévue dans leur plan
national de contrôle et d’élimination du choléra (PNC).
Cholera is a diarrhoeal disease that is usually contracted when drinking water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. The fight against this disease requires a multidisciplinary approach that combines a water, hygiene and sanitation (WaSH) response with a monitoring system, improved water suppl...y and quality, sanitation and hygiene, and a health response with the treatment of the disease itself.
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Guide pratique à l’usage des médecins, infirmiers, techniciens de laboratoire, auxiliaires de santé, techniciens sanitaires et logisticiens.
Le document est un guide complet pour la gestion des épidémies de choléra, fournissant des protocoles détaillés pour la prévention, l’investigat...ion des épidémies, le traitement et les mesures de contrôle. Il couvre des aspects essentiels tels que la thérapie de réhydratation, l’assainissement de l’eau, la promotion de l’hygiène et la mise en place de centres de traitement. Conçu pour le personnel médical et non médical, il vise à soutenir une réponse efficace aux épidémies et à réduire la morbidité et la mortalité liées au choléra.
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Practical guide for doctors, nurses,laboratory technicians, medical auxiliaries,water and sanitation specialists and logisticians.
The document is a comprehensive guide for managing cholera epidemics, providing detailed protocols for prevention, outbreak investigation, treatment, and control mea...sures. It covers essential aspects like rehydration therapy, water sanitation, hygiene promotion, and setting up treatment centers. Designed for medical and non-medical staff, it aims to support effective epidemic response and reduce cholera-related morbidity and mortality.
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The study on single-dose cholera vaccine in Zambia evaluates the effectiveness of using a single dose of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) during a 2016 outbreak in Lusaka. Due to limited vaccine supply, authorities opted for a one-dose emergency campaign instead of the usual two-dose regimen. A matche...d case-control study was conducted to assess vaccine effectiveness, showing 88.9% short-term protection against cholera. The findings suggest that a single-dose approach can be an effective strategy in outbreak settings, especially when vaccine supplies are constrained. However, further research is needed to determine long-term immunity and effectiveness in young children.
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Cholera epidemics continue to be a major public health problem in many countries around the
world. When epidemics strike, they can spread rapidly. The disease can also evolve quickly;
patients with severe disease can die of dehydration hours after showing the first symptoms of
cholera.
Operational Guidelines for the national and district health workers & planners.
These new approaches include use of selective chemotherapy, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), Zinc for treatment of cholera in children and complementary use of OCV