CHOLERA — Avoiding This Deadly Risk While Traveling

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection causing profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, circulatory collapse and shock. Many cholera infections are associated with a profuse loss of bodily fluids, and if left untreated, 25-50% of severe cholera cases can be fatal, sometimes within hours of the first symptom onset.

The most common source of cholera transmission is through inadvertant ingestion of food and water that has been contaminated with fecal matter from cholera-infected persons.

Cholera is underreported by many country’s health officials, yet it is estimated that as many as 2.9 million cases and 95,000 cholera deaths  actually occur each year. Cholera is most likely to be found in areas where there is inadequate water treatment, poor sanitation, and insufficient hygiene.

Cholera is currently felt to be endemic in 69 world countries, primarily in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Those endemic countries include popular travel destinations such as China, India, Philippines, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

This potentially life threatening infection can now be prevented with a single oral dose of the cholera vaccine, Vaxchora, which has been available and FDA approved for use in the United States since 2016. This cholera vaccine has very minimal, if any, side effects, and can provide a high degree of immunity which lasts for at least two years. For details, see:    https://www.paxvaxconnect.com/vaxchora

I wanted to make you aware that the Travel and Immunization Clinic has this cholera vaccine in stock and can readily provide it if your travel puts you at risk for cholera infection. As stated by the Centers for Disease Control on June 8, 2017, “that includes not only relief and aid workers, but any adult traveler who will be going to cholera affected destinations”.

Please call us at 913-469-0011, or visit: www.travelandimmunizationclinic.com to schedule an appointment to learn more cholera, or to receive this potentially lifesaving vaccine.