| what is the pathogen causing cholera | vibrio cholerae |
| what is vibrio cholerae | very virulent (damaging) organism. It can gain entry to the host easily as the host cells line the intestine. |
| why is cholera bad | it is more difficult for the immune system to act on the pathogen, a toxin, known as choleragen is produced by the bacteriam causing damage to the host epithelial cells and leads to illness. water and mineral ions are lost from the cells to the gut lumen are not reabsorbed. resutling in lethal dehydration |
| transmission of cholera | by ingestion of water and more rarely food. that has been contaminated with faecal material containing the pathogen. the route of transmission is known as the faecal-oral route. comes from unpurified water and untreated contiminated sewage leaks. contanimated human faeces are used as a fertiliser for food plants |
| prevention and control | making sure water supplies are clean
proper sewage treatement
food hygeine, personal hygiene
educating people about how the pathogen is spread. |
| ORS | oral rehydration solution is used to treat most cases of cholera, it is a solution containing glucose and salts. |
| OCV | oral cholera vaccines, have been used successfully, particularly in mass vaccinations to slow down or prevent the spread of cholera, the vaccines which contains killed whole cells of vibrio is given in 2 doses |
| treatable | up to 80 percent of suffers can be successfully treated by replacing the lost fluids though oral rehydration therapy. |
