Causative agent
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Vibrio cholerae serogroups O1 and O139 can cause epidemic cholera.

Clinical features
Although most patients have mild symptoms such as mild diarrhoea or vomiting, some patients may have severe symptoms with sudden onset of profuse diarrhoea with rice water-like and fishy smelling stool, nausea and vomiting. Without prompt treatment, these patients may die from severe dehydration.

Mode of transmission
Cholera is usually contracted through consumption of food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. Human-to-human transmission rarely happens.

Incubation period
Ranges from a few hours to 5 days, usually 2 – 3 days.