Each year more than 400,000 people worldwide contract cholera, and more than 5,000 die of this dangerous infectious disease. While cholera is endemic in certain areas, it has recently spread to other regions as well. The main reasons for the spread of the disease are poor hygienic conditions and increasing tourism. Conventional vaccines administered by injection presently afford the most effective protection against cholera.
Cholera is mainly a problem of developing countries.
Poor hygienic conditions, heavily contaminated drinking water and, to some extent, the eating habits, are the major sources of cholera outbreaks. The disease risk is especially high in disaster areas, such as in the currently flooded regions of Mozambique. But in these countries vaccination meets with serious problems, since the conventional vaccine is too expensive and must be stored in a cool place, which is often not possible due to a lack of infrastructure. The vaccine developed by Lubitz on the basis of bacterial membranes can be freeze-dried and need not be stored in a refrigerator. In addition to this, the vaccine itself does not cause cholera, as is the case with traditional vaccines.