Cholera

What is Cholera?   

A vaccine is offered at Allied Pharmacy to prevent cholera. Cholera is a serious infection and can cause severe diarrhoea, alongside other uncomfortable symptoms. The vaccination included in this service is a drink and can protect those who are travelling to areas where cholera is found.  

Cholera is found in places like Africa and Asia, where there isn’t a supply of clean water. The risk of getting cholera is low, but if you’re travelling to a remote area without medical care, having this vaccination is strongly advised.  

How do you get Cholera?   

Drinking unclean water, eating food like shellfish which has been in unclean water, as well as eating food handled by an infected person, are common ways to get cholera.  

However, to avoid getting this infection on holiday, you can:  

• Regularly wash your hands with warm water and soap. Do this after using the toilet, before eating and preparing food.   
• Only drink or brush your teeth with bottled water or tap water that has been boiled.  

This can help your immune system stay healthy and safe from infection and other potential illnesses.  

What are the symptoms of Cholera?   

The symptoms of cholera include  

• An excessive amount of watery diarrhoea  
• Nausea
• Vomiting  
• Dehydration  
• Stomach pain  

Drinking plenty of fluids, such as a rehydration solution, is the main treatment for cholera and helps prevent your condition from worsening. Diarrhoea can quickly lead to dehydration, as the body loses vital electrolytes and fluids. Therefore, staying hydrated is essential to replace them and support recovery. 

Who can have the vaccine?  

This vaccine is usually recommended to individuals, under the Travel Health Clinic service, who are:  

• Travelling to an area where cholera is common, and it’s in a remote place where medical care is not available.   

The vaccine is not suitable for everyone, as your age, medical conditions, allergies and the circumstances of where you are travelling will be considered.  

Adults who are advised to have the cholera vaccine will need two doses, and both doses need to be given at least one week before your trip. However, there needs to be at least one to six weeks apart from the two doses, so please ensure you contact your local Allied Pharmacy in plenty of time for protection against cholera.