What is Cholera Immunization?

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Cholera is a type of diarrhea which injures the health severely. Every year around 3-5 million people are affected by cholera all over the world . Cholera claims 100,000-120,000 lives per year. However, proper medication helps patients to get back from the pitiable condition. Oral rehydration  is more effective to cure a cholera affected person. Simultaneously, a person should drink fresh water to flush out unwanted materials from the body to purify and strengthen the body. Healthcare experts advise to use  pre-emptive measure to resist cholera. Compact medical care followed by effective application of medication is also very helpful in the reduction of disease. Cholera immunization program is more successful in preventing this disease. Cholera vaccines must be administered beforehand so that the resistance power increases to check the attack of cholera germs.

What is Cholera?

Vibrio cholera is the carrier of cholera and the bacterium infects vast number of people. Cholera starts with the onset of diarrhea. When a person suffers from cholera, he starts vomiting at short intervals resulting in dehydration. It is seen that usually, contaminated water of pond, short water lake, ditches and other closed areas like reservoir can germinate bacteria of cholera causing rapid spread of infection. Cholera is more frequent in the Indian sub continent due to poor drainage system, sub standard water filtering process and negligence to protect drinkable water from infection. Cholera was traced in India way back in 19th century in the bed of the Ganges delta. Cholera is pandemic to some extent as it once spread over South Asia, Africa and Latin America at different times. However, due to fast development of immunization techniques, this disease has recently been brought under control and can be prevented as well as treated properly.

What are the Symptoms of Cholera?

Doctors confirm that around 75% patients with V Cholera do not have any specific symptom that can be distinguished  separately. It can attack young and oldies. Even children can be killed by Cholera. However, in severe condition, few specified symptoms of cholera can come to fore. Dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting tendency and weakness are some of the symptoms which determine the presence of bacteria of cholera in the body.

What is Cholera Immunization?

Administration of anti-cholera injection is conducted to minimize the spread of bacteria of cholera. Vaccine shots are injected to increase the protective power and immunize the body against the harmful bacteria of cholera. There are two types of vaccines to prevent cholera. One is B- type sub unit and other one is without B type. These vaccines provide excellent result in this connection. However, Dukoral and Shanchol are the well recognized vaccinial shots which must be used to standardize the cholera immunization process in more systematic way. World Health Organization has authorized the healthcare clinics, hospitals and non profit organizations to use these vaccines to resist the invasion of Cholera.

How can mass immunization control cholera?

Recent studies in India, Zambia, Vietnam and Zanzibar suggest that if mass immunization is conducted against cholera at the first sign of its outbreak, it can be from spreading to a large extent. Cholera vaccines are administered orally and are readily available at all health centers. But since the health workers are too busy in taking care of the infected patients and problems like dehydration, very rarely they notice the need to immunize the non- infected community. Moreover, cholera has a history of changing places. Hence when medical fraternity is engaged in treating cholera patients, it silently moves to another land. According to eminent immunologist, Edward Ryan, Harvard University, if most of the population where cholera has stricken repeatedly in the past is immunized, this infection can be eradicated completely and effectively. Herd immunity is another aspect which can work in harmony with the concept of mass immunization.

What are the obstacles in mass immunization of cholera?

Effective re-hydration, recommendation of proper cholera immunization programs via vaccine administration process  and using high quality drugs can help us steer clear of cholera in advance. But a stockpile of cholera immunization that can be used for people from all over the world with equal effectiveness is not available. Every country has its own immunization technique and medicines due to which the impact is not equal. Moreover, awareness about health and hygiene and proper sanitary measures vary from country to country due to which immunization programs are less effective in some communities.

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