Abstract

GARCIA, Hilda María; VALERA, Rodrigo Felipe  and  MENENDEZ, Jorge de Jesús. New approaches to the implementation of oral cholera vaccines. Vaccimonitor [online]. 2010, vol.19, n.2, pp.24-29. ISSN 1025-028X.

Cholera is a health problem for many countries in the world. The high morbidity and mortality rates observed recently have concerned the scientific community, since the increase of the incidence of this disease could generate a global crisis in its control. Key factors in the reemergence of Cholera are: the general weakening of public health activities, especially those involved in the monitoring and deterioration of the laboratories responsible for early identification of emerging microorganisms as well as the circulation of new strains of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor in Africa and Asia, which produces the classical cholera toxin and replaces the original one of El Tor biotype, causing more severe clinical manifestations, which represents a major obstacle to control this disease. In the fight against this disease during the occurrence of disasters, the World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend the use of existing vaccines against cholera because a rapid decline of protection occurs; giving a false sense of safety so resources must be directed to the most useful control methods. Due to the global impact the re-emergence of cholera involves, some epidemiological aspects and considerations on prevention and control of this clinical entity are presented in this article, starting by the review of different updated information sources and the presentation of new concepts on its control, which will be useful and interesting for health care professionals.

Keywords : Cholera; epidemiology; prevention; control; vaccines.

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