How to prevent Cholera?

Cholera can be prevented through careful sanitation, careful use and treatment of

water before drinking or cooking, and careful handling of food.

SANITATION

• Dispose of dead bodies far from water sources.Always wash carefully after handling.

• Build emergency sanitation facilities at least 30 meters from any water source. Ensure that people can wash carefully after using the toilet.

• Always wash hands after using the toilet.

• Always wash hands before cooking.

WATER

• Do not drink untreated water.

• Treat water using at least 2 methods: Filtering through fabric, sand or other material and boiling Filtering through fabric, sand or other material and adding lime or lemon Filtering through fabric, sand or other material and adding chlorine

• Keep water containers clean and do not put hands in drinking water.

FOOD

• Cook food thoroughly and eat it while it is hot. Fish and shellfish are a major cause of cholera: only eat them if they are well-cooked. • Do not mix cooked foods with raw foods like salads or relishes. • Exclude infected persons from handling food. • Wash vegetables and fruit in treated water before use, or peel them if there is no water. • Discourage the habit of several people eating together from a communal food container.

* Preparing an Emergency Pit Latrine

In an emergency, while a more permanent latrine is being built, a simple pit can be dug as a temporary solution for the disposal of human excreta. It should have a depth of at least 1/2 meter, and be at least 20 meters from a well or other source of drinking water. Where possible, the pit should be at least 6 meters from the nearest house. It should not be located uphill from the water source or dug in marshy soil. The bottom of the pit should never penetrate the groundwater table. After each use, a layer of soil should be laid down in the pit. In an area affected by cholera, the pit should also be coated each day with a layer of unslaked lime. For more information about other latrine designs, please see Sanitation and Cleanliness for a Healthy Environment.