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Additional cholera cases reported in Mexico
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WHO reported an additional four cases of infection with Vibrio cholerae 01 Ogawa in Mexico; three from the state of Veracruz and one from the state of Hidalgo.
Since September, there have been 184 cases related to this serotype in Mexico, including one death. According to WHO, 160 cases are from Hidalgo, 11 are from Veracruz, nine are from the state of Mexico, two are from the Federal District, and two are from the state of San Luis Potosi.
The genetic profile of the bacterium is 95% similar to a strain that is currently circulating in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba, but is different from the strain that had been circulating in Mexico between 1991 and 2001. Tests at the Institute of Epidemiological Diagnostics and Reference demonstrated that the bacterium was susceptible to doxycycline and chloramphenicol; had reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin; and was resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Mexican health officials are making efforts to provide clean drinking water and basic sanitation at the community level, and they have launched public health campaigns in Spanish and indigenous languages about safe drinking water and food consumption, according to a WHO press release. In addition, health care workers are being trained to prevent and treat the illness.
WHO currently does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions as a result of the outbreak.