[The characteristics of the current stage in the development of the 7th cholera pandemic].

The state and tendencies in the development of the epidemiological situation in cholera in the world (1961-1996) are evaluated. As revealed in this investigation, at the modern stage the development of the 7th pandemic characterized by the formation of stable and temporary endemic foci in a number of countries of Asia, Africa, Central and South America and by the import of cholera from these foci to different countries of the world, including the CIS countries and Russia. The "trigger mechanism" of epidemic manifestations in Russia is discussed, in particular the epidemic of 1994 in Dagestan used as an example. Prognostication is made on the basis of the analysis of the epidemiological situation.