an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food
"The outbreak was quickly contained after officials shut down the well that had been contaminated by sewage, preventing further cases of cholera."
Any of several acute infectious diseases of humans and domestic animals, caused by certain strains of the Vibrio cholerae bacterium through ingestion of contaminated water or food, usually marked by severe gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.
"The village had to boil all their drinking water after a recent outbreak of cholera spread quickly through the community."