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WHO: Cholera transmission continues in Mexico
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Mexican health officials reported four additional cases of infection with Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa, according to WHO.
To date, there have been 180 confirmed cases of cholera due to Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa in Mexico, including one death. The outbreak began in September.
Two of the most recent cases are from the state of Hidalgo and two are from the state of Veracruz.
Most of the patients with cholera (n=159) are from Hidalgo. Of the remaining patients, two are from the Federal District, nine are from the state of Mexico, two are from the state of San Louis Potosi and eight are from Veracruz. Ninety-two confirmed cases are women and 88 are men. The patients range in age from 3 months to 88 years.
According to WHO, this is the first local transmission of cholera in Mexico since the 1991 to 2001 epidemic. However, the current strain is different from the strain that circulated at the time. The genetic profile of the current strain is 95% similar to a strain that is currently circulating in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba.
A test conducted by researchers at the Institute of Epidemiological Diagnostics and Reference showed that the bacterium was susceptible to doxycycline and chloramphenicol; had reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin; and was resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Mexican health officials are taking several steps to address the outbreak, including training health care professionals to prevent and treat the infection, the provision of drinking water and basic sanitation at the community level, and carrying out public awareness campaigns in Spanish and indigenous languages.
Currently, WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions as a result of the outbreak.