Epidemiological situation in the world on cholera and preventive measures

Epidemiological situation in the world on cholera and preventive measures

Epidemiological situation

According to the World Health Organization (hereinafter referred to as WHO), there is a high activity of the cholera epidemic process in the world, including in endemic countries of Asia (India, Bangladesh, Thailand) and Africa (Somalia, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique).

According to global According to the 2023 cholera statistics released by WHO in early September 2024, the 7th cholera pandemic continues to gain momentum, with an increase in the number of cases and deaths. The number of reported cholera cases in 2023 (535,321 cases, 103 countries) increased by 13% compared to 2022. The geographic pattern of outbreaks continued to change, with the number of cases reported in the Middle East and Asia decreasing by 32%, while cases increased by 125% in Africa. In 2023, large outbreaks (more than
10,000 suspected and confirmed cases per country) were reported in 9 countries on 3 continents (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Haiti, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia and West Africa).

As of 01.08.2024,
312,135 cases of cholera have been registered worldwide in 2024, including 2,284 deaths.

According to the latest data:

In Bulgaria, for the first time in 103 years, a case of cholera was registered in an Indian citizen living in Bulgaria and visiting New Delhi;

An outbreak of cholera has been registered in Nigeria, as of 09/06/2024, 40 cases of the disease have been registered, including 3 deaths;

As of 09/05/2024, 4,190 cases of cholera have been registered in Sudan.

For reference: cholera is an acute intestinal infection that occurs as a result of human infection with cholera vibrios. It can be transmitted in several ways:

water: when drinking water, using ice, swimming in bodies of water, washing dishes;

food: when consuming products that have not been sufficiently heat treated;

contact-household: through unwashed hands and household items.

The source of infection is a person. He can be either a patient (with a clinical picture) or an asymptomatic carrier.

Often, the infection causes diarrhea or has no obvious symptoms. However, in some cases, patients develop severe watery diarrhea and vomiting 12 hours to 5 days after the bacteria enters the body. In these cases, the loss of large amounts of fluid can quickly lead to severe dehydration. Without proper treatment, this can be fatal.

Clinical symptoms: nausea, loose stools (diarrhea), vomiting.

Prevention

- use boiled or bottled water for drinking and household purposes (for example, brushing teeth), washing fruits and vegetables (it is important to refrain from using ice to cool various drinks);

- avoid eating raw and undercooked foods (especially fish and seafood), do not buy food products from street or random vendors;

- use for swimming only water bodies permitted for organized recreation. When swimming in open water bodies, swimming pools, avoid getting water in the mouth;

- observe personal hygiene rules (wash hands with soap, use antiseptic after visiting sanitary facilities, public places, before eating).

!!!Travelers must familiarize themselves with the epidemiological situation in the destination country and preventive measures in advance!!!

More detailed information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus,
the State Institution "Republican Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health".