Zeitschrift für Impfstoffe und klinische Studien

Cholera

Cholera

Cholera is a life-threatening diarrheal disease with epidemic potential caused by the Gram negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae, serogroups O1 and O139. Since most cases of cholera are either not detected or not reported, the global burden of cholera is not known with certainty; however, cholera causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, with an estimated 5–7 million cases occurring each year, resulting in greater than 100,000 deaths per year. At present, the world is experiencing its seventh recorded pandemic, and cholera is endemic in many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Large outbreaks, especially among impoverished or displaced persons, occur on a regular basis, and cholera may spread through travel or migration of infected individuals, including even short-term travelers or visitors.