Traveller’s diarrhea is frequent, loose, or watery bowel movements usually from eating or drinking contaminated foods or fluids. Symptoms may also include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, bloating and feeling unwell. Symptoms can begin suddenly and last 3 to 5 days. The most common cause of traveller’s diarrhea is food or water contaminated with bacteria called enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). Food can also be contaminated when stool is used as fertilizer, or when contaminated water is used to spray vegetables in market stalls. Cholera is a bit more serious, and sometimes life-threatening in a few cases, infection caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae. People infected may have no symptoms or only mild diarrhea. However, others can develop very severe, watery diarrhea and vomiting. Without treatment, this can lead to severe dehydration and death.

If you are travelling our pharmacists would be able to advise as to when you should receive the vaccine. A booster dose may be required if you continue to travel or work in these areas. The vaccine gives you some protection against traveller’s diarrhea and cholera, which are infections caused by 2 types of bacteria.