- People usually get cholera from drinking water or eating food contaminated with cholera bacteria.
- People traveling to or living in places with unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene are at the highest risk of getting cholera.
- Learn what you can do to protect yourself from getting sick with cholera.
What causes it
Fact
People can get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with cholera bacteria. Cholera can spread quickly in areas where sewage and drinking water aren’t adequately treated.
Cholera bacteria also can live in brackish (slightly salty) and coastal waters. Eating raw shellfish like shrimp and crab can be a source of cholera.
Cholera is not likely to spread from person to person or from casual contact with someone with cholera.
Learn how to protect yourself and others if you are going to or living in a place where cholera is present.
How it spreads
Large outbreaks often are related to contaminated water supplies or food from street vendors.
In some countries, people moving to urban centers strain water and sanitation systems.
For decades, some regions in Asia, Africa, and Latin America have faced an ongoing cholera pandemic. The African continent has the highest cholera case fatality rates.
Understanding risk
People who are more likely to be exposed to cholera include healthcare personnel treating cholera patients, cholera response workers, and travelers to an area where cholera is present.
Cholera can be fatal for up to 50 percent of people with severe disease. People more likely to have severe cholera include those with:
- Blood type O
- Chronic medical conditions
- Achlorhydria (an absence of hydrochloric acids, or HCI, in the stomach)
People without access to rehydration therapy and medical services also are more likely to have severe disease from cholera.