in the Modern Era

JOSHUA P. FERNANDEZ

Since its first emergence in 1817, seven subsequent cholera pandemics had already plagued the world and killed millions of people across all borders. Recently, cholera has taken yet another blow to humanity.

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, said that 29 cholera outbreaks have been reported worldwide as of November 2022 - the highest number on record. In the Philippines this year, cholera cases have increased by 270 percent with 3,980 cases from January 1 to October 8.

Cholera defined.

Cholera, according to the World Health Organization, is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. People can get sick when they consume food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. Although cholera infection is mostly mild or without symptoms, some cases can be severe and life-threatening. People with severe cholera can develop extreme dehydration, which can lead to kidney failure. If left untreated, this extreme dehydration can lead

Efforts to end cholera.

Like COVID-19, more and more people are putting an effort to mitigate the adverse impact brought about by cholera. The Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) has made a global roadmap with goals of ending cholera by 2030. GTFCC also launched the Cholera Roadmap Research Agenda in 2021 that represents the collective vision of 177 global cholera experts and other stakeholders to identify the highest-priority research questions.

The prevention of cholera can be achieved at the most basic level - personal hygiene. Access to clean water and proper sanitation, as well as Oral Cholera Vaccines, can help to alleviate the dangers of a cholera outbreak. In communities, basic hygiene behaviors should be met. These include the need to always sanitize hands with soap after defecation and before handling food or eating, as well as preparation and conservation of food.

Opportunities beyond.

Like the COVID-19 pandemic, cholera doesn’t end overnight. It has its own pace, its own set of rules, and society must adjust to it, for better or for worse. The emergence of cholera outbreak depends on how we manage to overcome it, how prevention and control can put an end to its devastating outcome.

Cholera remains a global threat to public health, as well as an indicator of inequity and lack of social development in poor and underdeveloped countries. From this, governments worldwide must put extra effort and longterm measures for cholera to finally meet its end. As cholera continues to affect more communities, opportunities have risen to work with other global authorities to improve detection and to mobilize resources. Ultimately, these communities will be equipped with better knowledge and infrastructure to act against cholera, once and for all.