Cholera in the Philippines

26 Oct 2022

The Department of Health of the Philippines reports ongoing transmission of cholera in the country.

From 1 January 2022 to 8 October 2022  there have been 3 980 cases, including 37 deaths.

Two-thirds of cases have been reported in Central Visayas Region.  Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Davao, Caraga and Bicol Regions are also affected by the outbreak.

Cholera is an infection spread mainly through food and water that can cause sudden watery diarrhoea.

Advice for Travellers

Cholera is rare in travellers. Mild cases may present as travellers' diarrhoea.

If you are travelling to a country where there is an outbreak of cholera, you should be aware how to:

• practice safe food and water precautions
• practice effective hand hygiene
• treat mild diarrhoea, and when to seek medical attention

A vaccine is available to protect against cholera. Since the risk to travellers is very low, the vaccine is only usually recommended for volunteers or humanitarian workers travelling to work in disaster relief situations.

See the fitfortravel Cholera page for further information.