Articles

Cholera is an acute diarrheal sickness caused by Vibrio cholerae. It can be transmitted through contaminated food and water, which leads to severe dehydration and life-threatening hypovolemic shock and even death if not treated. Flooding increases disease spread by affecting healthcare systems, contaminating water supplies, and relocating populations. In the 2022 flood, Pakistan faced recurrent outbreaks, which caused widespread destruction to health facilities and enhanced exposure to contaminated water. The prevalence remains high due to poor surveillance, lack of proper sanitation, and limited access to safe drinking water. Risk factors like poverty, malnutrition, unhygienic food, blood type O, H. pylori infections, and lack of breastfeeding increase susceptibility. Effective prevention and control strategies necessitate advanced WASH infrastructure, health education, immunization, surveillance, and immediate care with oral hydration solutions (ORS). Reinforcing these public health strategies minimizes cholera-related illness and reduces mortality in endemic areas.