22 April 2009: Cholera – case in Paraguay

On 7 April 2009, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare of Paraguay received laboratory confirmation of a case of cholera arising from Vibrio cholerae O:1 Ogawa, biotype El Tor, toxin producing. The date on onset of symptoms was 6 March, originating in an indigenous community in the Paraguayan Chaco region. Since then, three outbreaks of acute diarrheal disease were detected, with 15 reported cases (though the total number is undetermined) and 3 deaths. Regional health authorities have taken successful measures to assure safe drinking water in the affected areas (chlorination, boiling water, purchase of mineral water) and the situation has been contained, which leads us to believe that transmission was water borne.