The Travel Doctor
Traveller's medical & vaccination centre
Ask The Travel Doctor-TMVC
Q: We are going to Africa, Tanzania and Kenya, in February. There is currently a cholera epidemic happening in Africa, do we need to get vaccinated, as our doctor said we don’t need to?
Maria, Laverton
A: Cholera is a water-borne (mostly) illness that causes severe, rapid dehydration from profuse watery diarrhea. The sudden and dramatic loss of body fluid can cause death, particularly in babies, elderly or sick people. This is an extremely rare disease of travelers, but mostly is a disease of populations whose water supply is contaminated, and who cannot avoid drinking infected water. For most travelers, taking care with water and liquids is the main protection, by only using boiled or safe bottled water. Cholera vaccine is available, it is a drink taken as 2 doses a week apart, and this can provide quite good protection as well, although not 100%. For most routine travelers, this vaccine is not required, as the risk of getting cholera is so small, however if a traveler has to travel into an area where an epidemic is present, then vaccination is recommended.
Recently, a large outbreak has occurred in Zimbabwe and its immediate surrounds as people try to move away from the outbreak, unfortunately often taking the cholera with them. This is occurring in Zimbabwe because the current regime has failed to provide even the basic community needs of clean and safe drinking water. In most other African countries, the standard of public health is better, and therefore the risk of cholera outbreaks is much less.
Dr Sonny
Disclaimer: Information provided in this health column is of a general nature & should not replace specific advice from your own personal Travel doctor-TMVC consultation.
Not all questions submitted to the website will be answered & Users of this website should always seek the advice of a qualified health professional with any questions they have regarding their health or a medical condition.
