Cholera in Asia

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports continued transmission of cholera in Asian countries.

Afghanistan: 33 307 cases (16 deaths) from 1 January 2024 to 27 April 2024

Bangladesh: 6 cases from 1 January 2024 to 30 April 2024

India: 690 cases from 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2024

Pakistan: 5 313 cases from 1 January 2024 to 24 March 2024

Syria: 9 820 cases from 1 January 2024 to 30 April 2024

Yemen: 4 276 cases (23 deaths) from 1 January 2024 to 30 April 2024

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of faecally contaminated food or water, and occasionally foodstuffs such as shellfish.

Advice for Travellers

Severe cholera is rare in travellers. Mild cases may present as travellers' diarrhoea.

All travellers should be given advice on:

• maintaining safe food and water precautions
• effective hand hygiene
• basic steps in self-treating diarrhoea, particularly remaining adequately hydrated

Vaccination against cholera is dependent on the individual risk assessment, but may be considered for:

• volunteers/humanitarian workers/medical personnel travelling to disaster relief situations where cholera outbreaks are likely
• travellers with remote itineraries in areas where cholera outbreaks are occurring and there is limited access to medical care

For more information, please see the TRAVAX Cholera Page.