CDC warns on holiday travel to Haiti

ATLANTA, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- People planning to travel to Haiti or the Dominican Republic for the holidays should protect themselves from cholera, U.S. health officials advise.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say cholera has been spreading in Haiti since October and, to a limited degree, the Dominican Republic since November.

Cholera causes severe diarrhea and can result in death -- without proper care, a person can die within hours -- but it can be treated by drinking water mixed with oral rehydration salts and antibiotics can speed recovery and make the illness less severe, the CDC says.

"People get cholera by drinking water or eating food that has cholera germs in it. Water can be contaminated with the feces of a person sick with cholera," CDC officials say in a statement. "Food can be contaminated by water that has cholera germs in it or if the food has been prepared or handled by a person sick with cholera."

CDC suggest travelers before they go:

-- Pack water purification tablets to make your own safe water for drinking.

-- Pack oral rehydration salts to use if you get sick with diarrhea.

-- Water purification tablets and oral rehydration salts can be purchased at major retailers as well as sports and outdoors stores.