CholeraCholera
Cholera is a serious diarrhoeal disease caused by food or water contaminated by the bacterium vibrio cholerae. Common sources of infection are raw or poorly cooked seafood, raw fruit and vegetables, and other foods that have been contaminated during preparation or storage.
Most episodes of cholera are mild. Persons who have been infected may have no
symptoms or only mild diarrhoea. Others, however, develop very severe watery
diarrhoea and vomiting. The loss of large amounts of fluids can rapidly lead to
severe dehydration causing death, sometimes within three to four hours, if the
patient is not treated.Travellers are at risk mainly in developing
countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Africa,
and Eastern or Southern Europe.
A cholera vaccine was launched in the UK in May 2004 which is active against disease caused by Vibrio cholera serogroup 01.The vaccine named DukoralTM is intended to complement recommended food and hygiene protective measures for people visiting areas where the disease is endemic. It does not protect against V cholera serogroup O139 or other species of Vibrio
Dukoral triggers a local protective immune response in the intestine, inducing antibodies which prevent the bacterium from attaching to the intestinal wall ,impeding its colonisation. Clinical Trials in Bangladesh and Peru have showed the vaccine gives an overall protection of 85% in the first six months and fifty-seven per cent protection for two years. Protection starts about a week after taking the final dose of DukoralTM
Dosage: Adults and children over six should take two doses over a period of one to six weeks. For children between two and six years three doses should be given. Trials also show that protection varies with age therefore a booster dose should be given after two years for adults and after six months for children aged two to six years
Major cautions: Administration should be postponed for subjects suffering from acute gastrointestinal illness or acute febrile illness. Food and drink should be avoided one hour before and one hour after vaccination. Caution should be taken in subjects hypersensitive to formaldehyde as trace amounts may be present in the product.
Side effects: uncommon, include abdominal discomfort,diarrhoea, headache
More information is available at
http://www.travellersdiarrhea.com/en/index.cfm
Chiron Vaccines Evans, Liverpool L24 9GR. Tel 08457 451 500.