What should you know about swine cholera?

The term swine cholera describes a viral disease affecting pigs. Human cholera is a different illness caused by bacteria and usually acquired through contaminated food or water. A person who has diarrhoea after contact with pigs should not assume the animal disease has passed to them; the symptoms need assessment for common infectious and non-infectious causes.

The main danger in human cholera is rapid loss of water and salts through profuse watery diarrhoea. Dehydration can cause thirst, dry mouth, little urine, dizziness, weakness, or confusion.

Start oral rehydration solution as directed if you can drink, taking frequent small sips. Continue suitable food when tolerated and wash hands carefully after using the toilet. Do not prepare rehydration drinks by guesswork, and do not use anti-diarrhoeal medicines for a child or severely unwell person without medical advice.

Contact a clinician promptly if diarrhoea is frequent, watery, persistent, or follows travel or unsafe water exposure. A person unable to drink may need fluids through a vein, and antibiotics may be considered only after clinical assessment.

Seek urgent care for fainting, confusion, severe weakness, very little urine, sunken eyes, inability to keep fluids down, blood in stool, or signs of dehydration in an infant, older adult, or person with a serious medical condition. Do not wait if watery diarrhoea is rapidly worsening.

Ask whether your symptoms suggest dehydration, which rehydration fluid to use, whether testing is needed, and how to reduce spread to household members.