A person can get cholera from drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated with the cholera bacterium. The illness can spread rapidly particularly in areas with poor hygiene.

Cholera can be mild or severe. Severe illness is usually indicated by extreme watery diarrhoea, leg cramps, and vomiting. Dehydration and shock are common. Without urgent medical care including intravenous hydration, cholera can be fatal.

The risk of catching cholera is usually very low so most travelers don’t need to be vaccinated. However, it is recommended for children aged 2 years and over and adults who are travelling to areas where there is a high likelihood of exposure to cholera, people going to work in a humanitarian disaster, and for people with certain conditions that put them at greater risk of travellers’ diarrhoea.

Cholera vaccine

Vaccination is your best protection against cholera. This table explains how the vaccine is given, who should get it, and whether it is on the National Immunisation Program Schedule. Some diseases can be prevented with different vaccines, so talk to your doctor about which one is appropriate for you.