Signs and Symptoms:
Any person with rice watery diarrhoea, vomiting and sunken eye with dehydration should be considered as a suspected cholera case.
Treatment
Any such person should be given oral rehydration solution (ORS) and urgently referred to nearest health facility.
Contacts/family members
Burials and Social Gatherings:
Burial should be left to trained staff and should occur without delay after disinfection of the body, beddings and all personal belonging of the deceased. Burial ritual and ceremonies should be kept minimal.
Water and Sanitation:
One should drink only water treated by boiling, chlorination or filtration. After treatment, drinking water should be stored in appropriate containers and protected from contamination. Human waste should be disposed off properly, e.g. in latrines. Solid and liquid waste should be disposed off properly, e.g. incineration or burial. Pest control measures should be applied against flies, cockroaches and rodents.
Health Education:
Community members including students, mothers, workers, and patients with other diseases should be informed of cholera. All possible media should be used, e.g, radio, TV, churches, rallies, public gatherings, posters, booklets, etc. Information for the community include water treatment, handwashing with soap and preparation of ORS [8 teaspoon of sugar, half teaspoon of salt in a one litre of treated water].
Hands should be washed frequently with soap and water, e.g. before eating or handling food and drinks, after defecation and after handling sick persons, or their belongings. Hands should be thoroughly washed with water and soap before handling food. Food should be cooked and eaten warm. Raw food, non-cooked food and pre-cooked food items exposed for long time should be avoided. Peeling raw food is also advised.