GIS: cholera was ruled out in both cases of patients from Lublin and Szczecin

Cholera has been ruled out in patients from hospitals in Szczecin and Lublin, according to a statement from the Chief Sanitary Inspector and the National Consultant in the Field of Infectious Diseases, published on Thursday.

"Last week, two cases of detection of the genetic material of the cholera vibrio (Vibrio cholerae) were reported in Poland. In both cases, laboratory tests performed at the National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene-National Research Institute ruled out the presence of cholera. None of the people in the patients' environment developed symptoms. The source of the bacteria was not detected in environmental water samples," wrote Chief Sanitary Inspector Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski and National Consultant for Infectious Diseases Prof. Miłosz Parczewski in a joint statement.

Earlier, GiS reported that preliminary test results ruled out cholera in a patient who was admitted to hospital in Szczecin a week and a half ago.

The second case concerns a patient from a hospital in Lublin who was diagnosed with the cholera bacteria last week.

Marek Waszczewski, spokesman for the Chief Sanitary Inspector, told PAP at the time that tests conducted at the hospital only show infection with the Vibrio bacterium, but not whether it is toxigenic or not. The toxigenic variety causes cholera, while the non-toxigenic variety causes a milder infection of the digestive system.

Due to the fact that the patient's condition in Lublin was improving and the digestive symptoms were subsiding, it was suspected that it was not cholera but vibriosis, caused by the same group of bacteria as cholera.

“The patient’s clinical condition indicates that he is infected with a vibrio bacterium, but a non-toxigenic one,” Waszczewski said.

Vibriosis is an infection in humans and animals caused by bacteria of the Vibrio genus other than those that cause cholera. In humans, vibriosis can be caused by the nontoxigenic form of Vibrio cholerae.

Vibriosis is most often a foodborne infection, and its symptoms include watery diarrhea, which may be accompanied by abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. Symptoms typically appear approximately 24 hours after consuming contaminated food or water and last for about three days.

Waszczewski stressed that in the event of detection of the Vibrio cholerae bacteria, until detailed tests rule out cholera, sanitary services are obliged to act as if the threat existed.

Cholera is a highly contagious disease, but according to the National Institute of Public Health – National Research Institute, cases of it are extremely rare in Poland.

In 80% of people with cholera symptoms, the illness is mild or moderate. In 10-20% of patients, acute watery diarrhea occurs, leading to severe dehydration, which can lead to acute renal failure, serious electrolyte imbalance, and death.

However, among properly treated individuals, the mortality rate from cholera is approximately 1 percent, noted the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene. Treatment primarily involves administering electrolyte rehydration solutions; in severe cases, antibiotics are administered. In untreated individuals, the mortality rate reaches 50-70 percent.

From January 1 to May 2, more than 111,000 cholera cases were recorded worldwide, including 1,500 deaths, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. From March to May, the highest number of cholera deaths occurred in Angola (247), Sudan (62), Mozambique (29), Ethiopia (15), and Zimbabwe (10), the report states.

Cholera vaccination is available. The vaccine is recommended for children over two years of age and adults planning travel or a prolonged stay in a cholera-affected country, as well as for healthcare personnel and emergency services. (PAP)

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