Health Care Provider Information on Cholera (Vibrio cholerae)
on this page:
Required Disease Reporting
Clinical Features
Treatment
Required Disease Reporting
- Reporting
Cholera
Healthcare providers and clinical laboratories are required to report cases and suspect cases of Vibrio cholerae to the Minnesota Department of Health.
Clinical Features
- Vibrio
cholerae
CDC; Includes information about clinical features, transmission, trends, and more.Attention: Non-MDH link
Treatment
- Cholera can be simply and successfully treated by immediate replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea.
- Patients can be treated with oral rehydration solution,
a prepackaged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with
water and drunk in large amounts.
- This solution is used throughout the world to treat diarrhea.
- Severe cases also require intravenous fluid replacement. With prompt rehydration, fewer than 1% of cholera patients die.
- Antibiotics shorten the course and diminish the severity of the illness, but they are not as important as rehydration.
Do you suspect that you have a foodborne illness? Visit reporting suspected foodborne illnesses.
Spotlight
Chicks and Ducklings: Salmonella
Those cute little chicks and ducklings can be a great attraction for children this time of year, but they can also be a source of illness.
Protect others if you are experiencing diarrhea!
Anyone with a diarrheal illness should avoid swimming in public pools or lakes, sharing baths with others, and preparing food for others.
Young children (children in diapers) that are experiencing diarrhea should not be allowed to go swimming or attend daycare.
If you have questions or comments about this page, use our IDEPC Comment Form or call 651-201-5414 (TTY: 651-201-5797) for the MDH Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division.
