Current Suspected Overdose Deaths in Delaware for 2024: Get Help Now!

Find school water testing results and additional resources

Attention Medicaid Participants: Eligibility Renewals Restarted April 1, 2023

Delaware.gov logo

Delaware Health Alert Network #242

January 18, 2011 8:56 am


Health Alert
CHOLERA: SURVEILLANCE AND REPORTING IN DELAWARE

Cholera Cases Confirmed Among Florida Residents Who Traveled to Haiti


Background

The Delaware Division of Public Health is alerting providers to the recent confirmation of cholera cases among U.S. residents living in Florida. All these cases were among travelers to Haiti. As Delawareans too may travel to Haiti – or other cholera-affected areas - the possibility of cholera should be considered when patients present with symptoms consistent with the disease.

Symptoms

Clinicians should inquire about travel when evaluating patients with diarrhea.

Cholera infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe. Approximately one in 20 (5 percent) infected persons will have severe disease characterized by:

  • profuse watery diarrhea,
  • vomiting, and
  • leg cramps.

In these people, rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours.

Treatment:

When there is reason to suspect cholera, rehydration should be initiated immediately, and a stool specimen collected for culture of Vibrio cholera.

Cholera can be simply and successfully treated by immediate replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea. Patients can be treated with oral rehydration solution, a prepackaged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts. This solution is used throughout the world to treat diarrhea.

  • Severe cases also require intravenous fluid replacement. With prompt rehydration, fewer than 1% of cholera patients die.
  • Antibiotics shorten the course and diminish the severity of the illness, but they are not as important as receiving rehydration.

To Report Cases

Medical practitioners are reminded that cholera is a notifiable disease in Delaware; cases should be reported to the DPH within 48 hours. Reporting specifics and forms are available at:  http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/dpc/rptdisease.html . Reports can also be called into the DPH Bureau of Epidemiology by calling (302) 744-1033 or 1-888-295-5156.

More Information:

More information on cholera is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at:  http://www.cdc.gov/cholera/general/

************************************

You are receiving this email because you are a registered member of the Delaware Health Alert Network. If you are not a member and would like to subscribe, please register at https://healthalertde.org

Categories of Health Alert messages:

  • Health Alert: Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.
  • Health Advisory: Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.
  • Health Update: Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.
NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.



+