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Which foods can transmit cholera when prepared with contaminated water?

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Diagram of a water treatment plant showing the process from water inlet through mixing, coagulation, flocculation, settling, filtering, chemical treatment with chlorine, storage, and high-lift pumping to the distribution system. — water purification Water from inlets located in the water supply, such as a lake, is sent to be mixed, coagulated, and flocculated and is then sent to the waterworks for purification by filtering and chemical treatment. After being treated, the water is pumped into water mains for storage or distribution.

Cholera is a waterborne disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which spreads through the fecal-oral route. When food is prepared, washed, or irrigated with contaminated water, it can become a vehicle for transmission.12

Foods with the highest potential to transmit cholera include:

Seafood and Shellfish: Particularly when consumed raw or undercooked, these are high-risk items if harvested from contaminated waters.12
Fruits and Vegetables: Produce can become contaminated if washed with unsafe water or grown in soil fertilized with human excrement or irrigated with raw sewage.12
Contaminated Ice: Foods or drinks packed in or prepared with ice made from contaminated water can spread the infection.2

To ensure public health, it is essential to prioritize food safety by thoroughly cooking all food to a core temperature of 70 °C (158 °F) and consuming it while hot. Additionally, avoiding food from street vendors in endemic areas and ensuring proper hand hygiene before food preparation are critical preventive measures.31