Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of water or food contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The incubation period is short, from less than a day to five days. The bacillus produces an enterotoxin that causes abundant, painless diarrhea, which can rapidly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly administered. Most patients also experience vomiting.

Most people infected with V. cholerae have no symptoms, although the bacillus may be present in their stools for 7 to 14 days. In the event of illness, 80-90% of episodes are mild or moderately severe, making it difficult to distinguish them clinically from other types of acute diarrhea. Less than 20% of patients develop typical cholera with signs of moderate to severe dehydration.

Source: World Health Organization