South Korea reports first cholera patient in 15 years

By Park Sae-jin Posted : August 23, 2016, 14:46 Updated : August 23, 2016, 14:46

[Courtesy of the National Health Portal]



A 59-year old South Korean man has been found infected with Vibrio cholerae in the first locally infected case in 15 years, triggering an epidemiologic survey to track the source of infection, health authorities said Tuesday.

In previous cases, people got infected with the bacteria during their trips abroad, but the latest patient was found infected in Gwangju about 260 kilometers (about 161 miles) south of Seoul without travelling overseas, said the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said. 

The case was reported first by  a medical center in Gwangju last Thursday , and the patient was discharged after he recovered fully. The KCDC said it was undergoing an epidemiologic survey to find out the source of infection while speculating the man was probably infected while consuming imported foods.

"The risk of cholera turning into an epidemic is very low, but we will keep an eye on things to make sure it doesn't," a KCDC official said, urging citizens to keep a high level of hygiene by washing hands and cooking food thoroughly to prevent an infection.

Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Classic symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps caused by dehydrating. In worst cases, patients can die from the severe loss of fluids.

The infection is mainly caused by unhygienic conditions. Polluted seafood and natural water can become the source of an epidemic. In rare cases, an infection could be made through direct contact with the body fluids of cholera patients.

Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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