Seventh cholera pandemic
Encyclopedia
The seventh cholera pandemic was the seventh major outbreak of cholera
and occurred from the years 1961 to the 1970s and has continued (though much diminished) to the present. The outbreak began in Indonesia
, called El Tor
after the strain, and reached Bangladesh
in 1963, India
in 1964, and the USSR in 1966. From North Africa
it spread into Italy
by 1973. In the late 1970s, there were small outbreaks in Japan
and in the South Pacific
. There were also many reports of a cholera outbreak near Baku
in 1972, but information about it was suppressed in the USSR.
In 1971, the number of reported cases reported worldwide was 155,000. In 1991, it reached 570,000.
The spread of the disease was helped by modern transportation and mass migrations. Mortality rates, however, dropped markedly as governments began modern curative and preventative measures. The usual mortality rate of 50% dropped to 10% by the 1980s and less than 3% by the 1990s.
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
and occurred from the years 1961 to the 1970s and has continued (though much diminished) to the present. The outbreak began in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, called El Tor
El Tor
El Tor is the name given to a particular strain of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. Also known as V. cholera biotype eltor, it has been the dominant strain in the seventh global pandemic. It is distinguished from the classic strain at a genetic level, although both are...
after the strain, and reached Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in 1963, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1964, and the USSR in 1966. From North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
it spread into Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
by 1973. In the late 1970s, there were small outbreaks in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and in the South Pacific
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
. There were also many reports of a cholera outbreak near Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
in 1972, but information about it was suppressed in the USSR.
In 1971, the number of reported cases reported worldwide was 155,000. In 1991, it reached 570,000.
The spread of the disease was helped by modern transportation and mass migrations. Mortality rates, however, dropped markedly as governments began modern curative and preventative measures. The usual mortality rate of 50% dropped to 10% by the 1980s and less than 3% by the 1990s.