Interior of a Mississippi steamer crowded with ‘deck passengers’ Cholera epidemic 1873, National Library of Medicine
	Cholera was one of the most feared epidemic diseases of the 19th century. There were repeated worldwide pandemics of the disease.  Cholera is an acute bacterial infection of the intestines caused by drinking water or eating food contaminated with Vibrio cholera. Symptoms include watery diarrhea and vomiting that result in very rapid and severe dehydration. Untreated, death could result in a matter of hours.
	This illustration shows the interior of a Mississippi steamer crowded with ‘deck passengers’ during a Cholera epidemic in 1873.
	World Health Organization. 2000.  Report on Global Surveillance of Epidemic-prone Infectious Diseases.  WHO internet website.