This report updates surveillance findings for both epidemics. The epidemic of cholera caused by V. cholerae O139 has affected at least 11 countries in southern Asia. Three of these were culture-confirmed cases of V. cholerae O139 infection in travelers to Asia. Cholera Task Force, Diarrheal Disease Control Program, World Health Organization, Geneva.
Cholera is transmitted through ingestion of fecally contaminated food and beverages.
New oral cholera vaccines are being developed and provide more reliable protection, although still at a high cost per case averted. None of these vaccines have attained the combination of high efficacy, long duration of protection, simplicity of administration, and low cost necessary to make mass vaccination feasible in cholera-affected countries. Patients with suspected cholera should be reported immediately to local and state health departments. Treatment of cholera includes rapid fluid and electrolyte replacement with adjunctive antibiotic therapy. Chelala C. Cholera is walking south.