Cholera--an disease travelers may encounter

You may remember hearing of an outbreak of cholera in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.  People get cholera from water containing the bacteria Vibrio cholera. Another ancient disease, a cholera epidemic is recorded in the 16^th century but cholera-like symptoms are recorded in ancient Sanskrit writings (500-400 B.C.) from India. Historians recognize that cholera has affected the world population in at least seven different pandemics (a global epidemic).  

Cholera can cause a person’s death very rapidly because of dehydration that occurs. GI symptoms of cholera include sudden onset and uncontrollable stools and possibly vomiting. The loss of body fluids due to diarrhea causes dehydration. The person’s blood pressure drops, muscle cramps can affect the person’s body including legs and abdomen. As the person’s organs start to fail, the body temperature plummets. A person suffering from cholera can die within 24 hours.  (Moore, Peter, The Little Book of Pandemics, (New York City:  Fall River Press, 2009), 81-83.  For more information about cholera, see the CDC website at Cholera http://www.cdc.gov/cholera/index.html