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Cholera is still a medical problem in several countries, leading to the death of a large number of affected individuals. Recent acquisitions on the epidemiology of Vibrio cholerae suggest that there is a risk of global spreading of the disease and of the development of new pathogenic strains. We have reviewed the most recent hypothesis on the ecology of cholera, in particular on the origin of epidemics. Recent developments in the fields of therapy and prophylaxis of cholera are also reported.

The worsening of the social-environmental conditions during the period of transition of Albania and an epidemic of cholera (1994) were the cue for the execution of the study. The main objective is the description of knowledge and attitudes of the Albanian mothers about the risk factors for the gastroenteritis. This is a descriptive study of a representative sample (2100 families) of the population who reside in the central area of Albania, in 1996. The sample has been selected by cluster-sampling method. Interviewers trained previously, collected the data with a questionnaire ad hoc. Data elaboration has been carried out with the software Epilnfo 5. 99.7% (2094) of the enlisted mothers, mean age 28.7 years, were interviewed. 2/3 of them reside in rural areas. We considered social-demographic variables and their relation with the generic hygienic norms and those relative to water, foods, animals. The basic knowledge was very insufficient, particularly in rural areas, and in relation with lower social-economic index and instruction. The study reflects the state of transition train of the political and social-sanitary situation of Albania in the last decade. Still the knowledge and the attitudes about the alimentary hygiene are inadequate. It seems opportune to face this emergency with campaigns aimed at health education and public health interventions.