immunisation of travellers

Last reviewed 01/2018

Cholera is contracted by fewer than 1 in 100 000 travellers to developing countries, and has a case-fatality rate of less than 2% in this group. It is therefore one of the lesser risks amongst the vaccine-preventable infections of travellers: vaccination is not cost-effective, and not recommended by the WHO. (Nevertheless, it is estimated that as many as 75% of travellers to affected areas receive cholera vaccine).

Vaccination may be justified in frequent travellers or long-term residents in developing countries.