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Why should stored food be covered during a cholera epidemic?

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A woman in a pink dress receives medical treatment from nurses administering an IV at a crowded hospital in Saint-Marc, Haiti. — cholera A woman with cholera being treated by nurses at St. Nicholas Hospital in Saint-Marc, Haiti, 2010.

During a cholera epidemic, it is essential to keep stored food covered to prevent contamination.12

This practice is a critical safety measure because insects, particularly the housefly, can act as mechanical vectors for the disease. Houseflies frequently move between contaminated sources—such as garbage, carrion, or feces—and human food or drink. By landing on food, these insects can transfer the Vibrio cholerae bacteria, thereby facilitating the spread of the infection. Covering food serves as a necessary barrier to protect it from such exposure and helps mitigate the risk of transmission during an outbreak.312