Cholera is a severe bacterial infection of the gut that in severe, watery diarrhea. The bacteria that causes cholera are called Vibrio cholerae . Cholera happens more often in countries that do not have treated drinking water or good sewage treatment facilities.
Cholera is rare in the United States.
You get cholera by eating food or drinking water contaminated by the feces or vomitus of someone infected with cholera. Usually there is no fever and no blood in the stool. The symptoms usually appear 2 to 3 days after eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the bacteria. These fluids must be replaced either intravenously or by drinking liquids such as fruit juices, soups, and special fluids called oral rehydration salts. A doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to shorten the duration of the diarrhea and excretion of the bacteria in the feces.