After 18 years, Brazil registered the first local case of cholera, where the patient contracted the disease locally. The case occurred in the capital of Bahia, Salvador, as announced by the Department of Health and Environmental Surveillance in a technical note last Friday (19).
The disease was diagnosed in a 60-year-old man, resident of the capital of Bahia, whose infection was confirmed by laboratory tests.
According to the ministry, the patient has no history of travel to countries where cholera is common, nor has he had known contact with other infected people.
According to the note, this is an isolated case, considering that no other cases were identified, after the investigation carried out by the health teams with the people who had contact with the patient.
Considering the transmissibility period of the disease, which, in Brazil, is 20 days, men have no longer transmitted the cholera agent since April 10th.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), from January to March 2024, 31 countries registered cases or declared an outbreak of cholera.
Following the WHO classification, the African Region was the most affected, with 18 countries. In the Americas, outbreaks have only been declared in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
What is cholera
According to the Ministry of Health, cholera is an acute intestinal infectious bacterial disease, transmitted by direct fecal-oral contamination or by ingestion of contaminated water or food.
The infection is asymptomatic or causes mild diarrhea. It can also be severe, with watery and profuse diarrhea, with or without vomiting, abdominal pain and cramps.
When left untreated, intense dehydration can occur, leading to serious complications and even death. The disease is directly linked to basic sanitation and hygiene.
*Under the supervision of Bianca Camargo
Source: CNN Brasil
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