During a cholera epidemic, what is the first step to be taken?

Pattenkoffer advocated "improving local sanitary conditions as 'the best way to prevent or stop cholera Epidemics" Robe Koch believed that quarantine and disinfection can only prevent cholera Cholera Cholera is an acute diarrhoea disease caused by Vibrio cholera Vibrio cholera : 'Gram-negative bacterium' that produces cholera toxin (enterotoxin), which act on C-AMP system of mucosal cells of epithelium lining of the small intestine (to cause massive diarrhoea) Classic biotype El Tor biotype (serotypes: Ogawa , Inaba and Hikojima) Incubation period : 1-2 days (Few hours - 5 days) Reservoir : Human beings only Rice-water diarrhoea Essentials for treatment of cholera : Water and electrolyte replacement (ORS) Ref: Park 25th edition Pgno : 247-256