Opinion: How do we turn the tide on this cholera pandemic?

While most people remain unaware, we are in the midst of a cholera pandemic that has ravaged lives since 1961. It’s the world’s seventh such pandemic, which began in Indonesia, spread to 45 countries, and now puts millions at risk every year.

Among global development professionals, we know this killer well. But to the general public, cholera is often seen as a disease of the past — evoking images of Victorian London, dirty streets, and free-flowing sewage. In reality, cholera is a modern-day tragedy in regions with limited resources, and it demands our full attention.

Cholera, an acute diarrheal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and spread through contaminated food and water, persists despite all we’ve learned about the importance of clean water and sanitation and the advancements we’ve made with highly effective vaccines.