Cholera In The Americas 10/12 – 10/13 - Credit PAHO
# 7848
According to a recent epidemiological alert, issued on October 1st, PAHO (the Pan American Health Organization) lists four nations in the Americas reporting cholera over the past 12 months. Of these, three have been battling this disease for some time; Cuba, Haiti, The Dominican Republic. While the fourth – Mexico – has only recently begun reporting locally acquired cases.
In Mexico, the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point of Mexico reported 36 new confirmed cases of autochthonous infection with Vibrio cholerae O:1 Ogawa toxigenic in the state of Hidalgo. With the additional confirmed cholera cases, the national total is now 46, including one death; with two of the cases in the Federal District and 44 in the
state of Hidalgo.
The cases are 24 women and 22 men with ages ranging from 2 to 82 years old.The Mexico health authorities continue to: strengthen epidemiological activities at the national level; ensure the availability of inputs and quality of care in medical units; implement actions to ensure access to drinking water and basic sanitation at the community level; and monitor and check the chlorine levels.
On October 5th, the CDC’s Traveler’s Health website posted a low-level advisory regarding the situation in Mexico (See Cholera in Mexico : Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions).
Today, the ECDC has posted an epidemiological update on the situation.
Epidemiological update: Cholera in Mexico
10 Oct 2013
On 1 October, 46 confirmed cases of cholera, including one death, were reported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Mexico. Of those, two were identified in the Federal District and 44 in the state of Hidalgo. However, media reports mention up to 81 confirmed cases: 77 in the state of Hidalgo, two in the state of Mexico and two in the Federal District, which is the most populated area of Mexico.
Of the cases where information was available, 44% are male and 56% are female, age ranging from two to 82 years old; 30% have been hospitalized.
This is the first sustained autochthonous transmission of cholera recorded since the 1991-2001 endemic period. These infections are caused by Vibrio cholerae O:1 Ogawa toxigenic. The strain is different from the one that circulated in Mexico during the 1991-2001. Genetic testing suggests this strain to be similar to the strain currently circulating in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba.
Travellers to Mexico should be aware of preventive hygiene measures and seek advice from travel medicine clinics prior to their departure, to assess their personal risk. In addition, physicians in the European Union should consider the diagnosis of cholera in returning travellers from Mexico presenting with compatible symptoms. Upon diagnosis, notification to the relevant public health authorities is essential.
In Cuba, according to the same update, 678 confirmed cholera cases, including 3 deaths, have been reported from July 2012 through August 2013. The affected provinces are Camaguey, Granma, Guantanamo, Havana, and Santiago de Cuba. Twelve of the confirmed cases had travelled to Cuba from other countries (two from Chile, two from Germany, three from Italy, one from the Netherlands, two from Spain, and two from Venezuela). The overall risk for travellers is still considered low.
