Fewer than 80 proven cases of cholera have been reported in the U.S. since 1973. Most of these cases were detected only after epidemiological investigation. Probably more sporadic cases have occurred, but have gone undiagnosed or unreported. The illness is generally self-limiting. Antibiotics such as tetracycline have been demonstrated to shorten the course of the illness.
Death occurs from dehydration and loss of essential electrolytes.
Medical treatment to prevent dehydration prevents all complications. V. cholerae serogroup O1 may be recovered from foods by methods similar to those used for recovering the organism from the feces of infected individuals. Pathogenic and non- pathogenic forms of the organism exist, so all food isolates must be tested for the production of cholera enterotoxin. May 20 . Dec 13 reports on a cholera outbreak associated with imported coconut milk.