The Urwin Pharmacy Group
Cholera Travel Vaccine
What is Cholera?
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholera.
Cholera is mainly transmitted through faecal contamination of food or water. It is commonly found in low-income countries and is usually associated with poverty, poor sanitation and poor access to clean drinking water. It takes between 12 hours and 5 days for a person to show any symptoms of cholera after ingesting contaminated food or water.
Cholera Travel Vaccine
An oral cholera vaccine became available in the UK in 2004. This vaccine is only advised for certain travellers who are travelling to places where cholera may occur. Examples of people who are likely to be advised to have the cholera vaccine include people going to an area of a known cholera outbreak. This could include travellers who are aid workers or health workers who are travelling to emergency relief camps where cholera may have broken out. Or travellers who plan to stay for a long time in an area where the risk of cholera is high, especially in areas where there is limited access to medical care.
Cholera Prevention
The risk of acquiring cholera can be reduced by ensuring travellers are extra careful about personal, food and water hygiene and all guidelines are followed.
Wash your hands and prepare food with care. Travellers should also use bottles water instead of tap water, use chlorine tablets and eat prepackaged foods.
What travel vaccinations do I need?
Speak to one of our expert Pharmacists at your local Urwin Pharmacy branch about current travel advice and recommendations.