Cholera in the U.S.

Twenty-three cases of cholera have been confirmed in the U.S. since the epidemic began in Haiti in 2010.

In October 2010, cases of cholera caused by toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 were confirmed in Haiti. Since then, more than 275,000 cases of cholera (and more than 4700 deaths) have been reported in Haiti and the Dominican Republic (DR), which together constitute the island of Hispaniola. Now, researchers describe 23 related cases of cholera that occurred in the U.S. between November 2010 and April 2011. All were CDC confirmed — 20 by culture and 3 by serologic testing.

Case patients resided in eight states, with the largest numbers in Florida, Massachusetts, and New York. Their median age was 38 (range, 9–84). Most of the patients were hospitalized (39%) or seen in an emergency department (30%); none died. Twenty-two patients reported recent tr…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine