Cholera

At a glance

Vaccine preventable
Nationally notifiable disease

About cholera

Cholera is an illness caused by toxin-producing strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

People can get cholera by consuming contaminated food or water. The infection affects the gut and can cause diarrhoea.

Most cholera infections are mild, but some can be serious.

Why it matters to public health

Cholera is rare in Australia. Most people diagnosed with cholera in Australia acquired their infection while travelling in countries with reduced access to clean water and sanitation.

Very rarely, infections can occur in Australia from:

contaminated imported food, such as seafood
contaminated rivers.

Cholera can cause severe diarrhoea and life-threatening dehydration in some people. If not treated quickly, it can cause death.

Symptoms

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Most people have mild symptoms. Some people have no symptoms.

Symptoms of cholera include:

sudden watery diarrhoea
nausea and vomiting.

If not treated promptly, serious complications include:

severe dehydration
shock due to fluid and electrolyte loss.

healthdirect’s symptom checker can help you decide whether to see a healthcare professional.

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Onset of symptoms

Symptoms usually start within 2 to 3 days after getting infected. But this can range from several hours to 5 days.

How it spreads

Cholera spreads when people eat food or drink water contaminated with the stool of an infected person.

People can also get cholera by eating raw or undercooked seafood from contaminated waters.

Cholera does not usually spread directly from person to person.

Infectious period

People with cholera are usually infectious while they have diarrhoea and for a short time after symptoms have resolved.

Some people who do not have symptoms can also spread the bacteria.

Prevention

Vaccination

A cholera vaccination is available in Australia. It is only recommended for certain travellers (aged 2 years and older) who are travelling to areas where there is a high likelihood of exposure to cholera.

Not all travellers to areas with cholera are recommended to have a vaccination.

People travelling to an area with cholera should talk to a healthcare professional at least 6 weeks before they plan to leave Australia.

Healthcare professionals can read more about cholera vaccination in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

Other prevention steps

Ensuring access to safe food and water is the most important way to prevent cholera.

People who are in areas where cholera is common should:

drink only bottled or boiled water
avoid food from street stalls
avoid raw or undercooked vegetables, meat and seafood
eat fruits or vegetables washed in treated water and peeled by themselves
wash hands often, especially before eating and after using the toilet.

If travelling, follow Smartraveller advice and read how to prevent infectious diseases while travelling.

Priority groups and settings

People at greater risk of severe disease

Cholera poses a greater risk of severe illness for people:

with some chronic conditions – such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, conditions that reduce stomach acid or cardiovascular disease
with weakened immune systems.

People at greater risk of exposure

People are at greater risk of being exposed to cholera if they are in an area where cholera is common or where an outbreak is occurring.

Diagnosis and treatment

Cholera is usually diagnosed through a stool test.

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The most important treatment for cholera is prompt replacement of fluids and electrolytes with oral rehydration solution.

People with severe dehydration may require treatment in hospital. Antibiotics may be given to people with severe illness.

Read more about how to manage or treat cholera.

Surveillance and reporting

Cholera is a nationally notifiable disease – these are diseases that present a risk to public health.

Health authorities in each state and territory report new laboratory confirmed cases to us through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

The OzFoodNet network also monitors and responds to foodborne diseases in Australia. Read more in OzFoodNet’s annual reports.

This is part of national surveillance to monitor case numbers and disease patterns.

Use our data visualisation tool to search the latest data.

Outbreaks

The risk of a cholera outbreak occurring in Australia is very low. If an outbreak did occur, the response would focus on:

identifying the source of infection 
preventing further infections
educating people on the importance of food safety and personal hygiene.

Some cholera outbreaks may require a One Health response. A One Health response involves collaboration between human health, animal health and environmental sectors. This is because of potential impacts on seafood industries, trade and ecosystem health.

Read more about we define and plan for outbreaks.

Support

For information about cholera in your state or territory, see:

If you need mental health support, see a list of organisations, websites and services that offer support, counselling and information.

For travel advice, see: