CHOLERA – TAIWAN: LOCAL CASE
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Thu 6 Jul 2023
Source: Outbreak News Today [edited]
http://outbreaknewstoday.com/taiwan-reports-1st-locally-acquired-cholera-case-of-2023/
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports
the 1st local confirmed case of cholera of 2023.
The patient, a man in his 20s, developed symptoms such as diarrhea and
abdominal pain on 28 Jun 2023. He went to the doctor for repeated
watery diarrhea and upper abdominal cramps and returned home to rest
after being tested and prescribed oral medicine. On 3 Jul 2023, a
suspected strain was reported due to the culture of feces. On 5 Jul
2023, the test confirmed the infection with toxigenic Vibrio
cholerae (serotype O1-Ogawa). At present, the symptoms of the case
have improved, and there is no diarrhea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the case
had no recent travel history at home and abroad, and most of his 3
meals were lunch boxes outside. Health units have launched various
epidemic prevention and control investigations to clarify possible
sources of infection.
According to the statistics from the CDC, the cumulative number of
local cases from 2019 to 2022 is 0, 1, 0, and 2 cases respectively,
and the age distribution is in their 20s to 80s. All of them were
detected with V. cholerae serotype O1-Ogawa.
Cholera is an acute bacterial enteric infection with an incubation
period of usually 2 to 3 days and is transmitted through consumption
of contaminated food or water. Because V. cholerae has poor
resistance to gastric acid, it usually takes a large amount of
bacteria to cause disease. However, in people with insufficient
gastric acid, gastrectomy or poor immune function, a small amount of
bacteria may cause disease. Symptoms of infection include massive rice
soup-like watery diarrhea, vomiting, rapid dehydration, acidosis, and
circulatory failure.