8.5 Determining the end of an outbreak

These definitions can be used at a local, regional, or national level depending on the area intended to be covered by the declaration.

8.5.1 Non-endemic areas and endemic areas with sporadic epidemics

In non-endemic countries and endemic areas with sporadic epidemics (i.e., not annual or year-round), WHO considers that the end of an epidemic occurs when Vibrio cholerae are no longer detected in stool cultures of patients presenting with acute watery diarrhoea for 2 consecutive weeks.

8.5.2 Endemic areas with annual or sustained transmission

In endemic areas with annual or year-round transmission, WHO considers that the end of an epidemic occurs when the number of cases of cholera returns to its pre-outbreak level for 2 consecutive weeks (sporadic cases may continue to occur but do not indicate that an epidemic is still ongoing).