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'''Cholera''' is an intestinal disease<ref>[http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/snowcricketarticle.html John Snow and the Broad Street Pump: On the Trail of an Epidemic]</ref> caused by infection with the [[bacterium]] ''Vibrio cholerae''.

'''Cholera''' is an intestinal disease<ref>[http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/snowcricketarticle.html John Snow and the Broad Street Pump: On the Trail of an Epidemic]</ref> caused by infection with the [[bacterium]] ''Vibrio cholerae''.

The infection is often [[symptom|asymptomatic]], but can be quite severe. Approximately one in twenty infected patients exhibit profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these persons, rapid loss of body fluids leads to [[dehydration]] and hypovolemic shock. Without treatment, death can occur quickly. <ref name="cdc">[http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/cholera_gi.html Centers for Disease Control]</ref>

The infection is often [[symptom|asymptomatic]], but can be quite severe. Approximately one in twenty infected patients exhibit profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these persons, rapid loss of body fluids leads to [[dehydration]] and hypovolemic shock. Without treatment, death can occur quickly.<ref name="cdc">[http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/cholera_gi.html Centers for Disease Control]</ref>

Although cholera is rare throughout the developed world, it is [[endemic]] in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] and other underdeveloped areas, and a common cause of [[mortality]] and morbidity. <ref name="cdc" /> Untreated cholera has a mortality rate of about 50 percent.

Although cholera is rare throughout the developed world, it is [[endemic]] in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] and other underdeveloped areas, and a common cause of [[mortality]] and morbidity.<ref name="cdc" /> Untreated cholera has a mortality rate of about 50 percent.

Cholera came to the European continent in the 19th century as transportation started to develop. There were five large cholera-epidemics throughout Europe, which killed thousands of people.  

Cholera came to the European continent in the 19th century as transportation started to develop. There were five large cholera-epidemics throughout Europe, which killed thousands of people.  

These epidemics sparked the sanitation reforms in large European cities during the 19th century, after [[John Snow]] traced a cholera outbreak in London to a single pump.<ref>[http://www.csiss.org/classics/content/8 John Snow: The London Cholera Epidemic of 1854] By Scott Crosier</ref>

These epidemics sparked the sanitation reforms in large European cities during the 19th century, after [[John Snow]] traced a cholera outbreak in London to a single pump.<ref>[http://www.csiss.org/classics/content/8 John Snow: The London Cholera Epidemic of 1854] By Scott Crosier</ref>