LONDON (AlertNet) – Guinea-Bissau is bearing the brunt of a cholera epidemic that has hit West Africa after months of heavy rains triggered outbreaks of the waterborne disease by flooding latrines and contaminating wells. Some 280 people have died and 15,500 people have been infected since it first broke out in mid-June. In September alone there were 4,000 cases recorded. The disease has spread from the capital Bissau and now affects the entire country.

Following are key facts about cholera, which infects an estimated 110,000 to 380,000 people globally every year.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and spread through contaminated food and water.

It has a short incubation period of less than one to five days. Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if not treated promptly.

Most people infected with V. cholerae do not become ill, although the bacterium is present in their faeces for 7-14 days.

Outbreaks can occur sporadically in any part of the world with poor water supplies, food hygiene and sanitation.

Sudden, large outbreaks are usually caused by a contaminated water supply. If a community is unprepared for an outbreak, as many as 50 percent of people with cholera may die because of lack of treatment.

When cholera appears in a community, the World Health Organisation says hygienic disposal of human faeces, an adequate supply of safe drinking water, and good food hygiene are essential.

Cholera is relatively easy to treat. Most people are cured by taking oral rehydration salts to replace lost fluids. In severe cases, intravenous administration of fluids may be needed to save the patient's life.

There are limited supplies of two oral vaccines that provide high-level protection for several months against cholera caused by V. cholerae O1. Both are suitable for use by travellers but they have not yet been used on a large scale for public health purposes.

Source: World Health Organisation