How did James Polk get cholera morbus?

James Polk likely contracted cholera morbus, a gastrointestinal illness, during his travels as a politician and during his presidency, particularly when he was in areas with poor sanitation or contaminated water supplies. The disease often spread in crowded conditions and was exacerbated by inadequate hygiene practices. Polk's active lifestyle and the conditions of travel in the mid-19th century would have increased his risk of exposure to the bacteria responsible for the illness.