(HealthDay) -- If you live in an industrialized country, you probably don't worry about cholera. The intestinal disease, which causes diarrhea, rarely has been seen in the United States for a century. But if you travel to South America and some other places, you need to be wary.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. You can catch it by eating infected food or drinking water.
The CDC says travelers to countries where cholera is present should drink only water that's been boiled or bottled or carbonated beverages. Travelers also should eat only foods that have been thoroughly cooked. You should skip foods sold by street vendors and never eat salads in countries where cholera is present.
