On May 24, 2014, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) received a report of a cholera case in a 53-year-old male truck driver who resides in southern Taiwan. Laboratory tests confirmed infection with V. cholerae O1 Ogawa in the case. The case is this year’s first indigenous cholera case confirmed in Taiwan. According to the epidemiological investigation, the patient often travels between cities and counties in northern and southern Taiwan and eats out most of the time. Hence, the health authority is in the process of investigating the possible source of his infection and has collected specimens from the case’s family members for laboratory testing. As of now, the three family members who reside in the same household with the case have not developed any suspected symptoms. In addition, the health authority has also assisted in disinfecting the case’s residence. During 2011 and 2013, 2, 5 and 7 indigenous cholera cases were respectively confirmed. Of these cases, in 2011, an 86-year-old female patient who simultaneously had cancer died.

Cholera is an acute bacterial enteric disease with sudden onset of profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, rapid loss of body fluids that leads to dehydration, acidosis, and circulatory collapse. The incubation period can vary from a few hours to five days with an average of 2-3 days. Transmission of cholera typically occurs by eating food or drinking water that is undercooked and contaminated with the feces of an infected person or carrier. The onset of cholera is related to the number of bacteria ingested and the host immunity. People at increased risk of cholera include elderly, patients with chronic diseases, cancer, weakened immune system, gastric hypoacidity, and people who have had gastrectomy.

Taiwan CDC urges the public to pay attention to food and water hygiene. To prevent cholera, people are advised to take the following steps: consume thoroughly cooked food, store food safely and refrigerate when necessary, avoid cross-contamination-mixing raw food with cooked food, and drink only boiled or bottled water. In addition, high risk groups should avoid eating raw fish and vegetables to reduce the chance of infection. Physicians are urged to report suspected case within 24 hours of diagnosis. If suspected symptoms develop, please seek immediate medical attention. For any questions or further information on cholera, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).