Cholera outbreak in Hanoi

During the past week there has been an increasing number of cases of acute diarrhea in Hanoi and the surrounding provinces. Up to to-day more than 455 people in North Vietnam have been diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis mainly due to the bacteria Vibrio Cholerae (Cholera).

The provinces which have been infected by Vibrio Cholerae are : Ha Noi, Ha Tay, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Hai Phong.

For your information and safety we have written the following information about Cholera

Cholera

Cholera is acute diarrheal disease that was firstly detected in the pandemic of 1817. Since then, 7 global pandemic have occurred which has affected millions of people worldwide. In October 1992 an outbreak of V. cholera in southeastern India, infected 100,000 people with in 3 months.

Although cholera can be life-threatening, it is easily prevented by good hygiene. Treatment is usually quite successful if initiated in time. Because of advanced water and sanitation systems, cholera is not a major threat; however, everyone should be aware of how the disease is transmitted and what can be done to prevent it.

Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes it can be severe. A patient who suffers from Cholera usually suffers from acute painless watery diarrhea without a fever. In severe cases the diarrhea quantity can be up to 250 mg/kg (10 litters/day+) in the first 24 hours, which can rapidly progresses to severe dehydration. As the diarrhea continues, other symptoms of severe dehydration are manifest, such as generalized cramps and reduced urine output.

How does a person get cholera?

A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. Humans become infected incidentally but once infected, they can act as vehicles for spread of the disease. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces of an infected person. Ingestion of water contaminated by human feces is the most common means of acquisition of V.cholerea. Consumption of contaminated food can also contribute to spread of the disease. V. Cholerae can survive up to 14 days in some food especially when contamination occurs after preparation of the food. Cooking and heating the food eliminate the bacteria.

In previous epidemics the bacteria responsible have been found in left-over rice, raw fish, cooked crabs, seafood, raw oyster, and fresh vegetable and fruits. Cooking and heating the food eliminate the bacteria.
The disease is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore, casual contact with an infected person is not a significant risk for becoming ill.

How to protect yourself:

• Drink only boiled water or mineral water from sealed bottles. Avoid drinking beverages with ice.
• Avoid eating fresh vegetable and fruit.
• Since the current epidemic in Hanoi is suspected to have occurred because of sea-food (shrimp paste), you must therefore avoid eating raw fish or seafood.
• Avoid eating outside your house at street vendors. Eat only in restaurants which practice high standards of hygiene.
• Ask your maid at home to carefully wash her hands before preparing the food.

What is the treatment for Cholera

If you suffer from severe diarrhea with large amounts of watery stool you should seek medical attention promptly. In our clinic we can perform a stool test to detect Vibrio Cholera in the stool or other pathogens that may be the source of your acute gastroenteritis.

In mild cases Cholera can be simply and successfully treated by immediate replacement of the fluid and salts that have been lost through diarrhea. Patients can be treated with either IV fluids or oral rehydration solution which is a prepackaged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts. Antibiotics shorten the course and diminish the severity of the illness, but they are not as important as re-hydration.

For any assistance or any more questions do not hesitate to contact us .