The aim of cholera control measures is to reduce mortality amongst affected populations as well as the transmission of cholera in at risk or affected populations.
Actions and activities implemented to specifically reduce mortality are the rapid detection and early effective treatment of cases.
Actions and activities implemented to reduce transmission are the supply of safe water, the improvement of sanitation and hygiene and, in certain cases, the vaccination against cholera.
The means all these activities require are described in this chapter.
Major infrastructure engineering work on sanitation and water distribution networks are the only long lasting solution to avoid cholera and other waterborne diseases. However, these works cannot be carried out in emergency situations and are not addressed in this guide.
All the activities described in this chapter involve the simultaneous implementation, at various levels, of health promotion activities.
The strategy for deploying cholera control measures is developed in Chapter 4.