Cholera-like illness due to halophilic vibrio spp. in the Caribbean - abstract

ABSTRACT

Since the introduction of V.cholerae 01 (E1 tor biotype) toxigenic strain in Peru in 1991, all mainland countries of South, Central and North America, with the exception of Uruguay, have had outbreaks of cholera. The Caribbean Islands have intensified their surveillance, strengthened laboratory capabilites and health education for prevention and control of diarrhoeal diseases as well as cholera. Vibrio cholerae 01 (E1 tor biotype) causes severe dehydrating watery diarrhoea as well as asymptomatic or mild illness which is indistinguishable from illness caused by other halophilic Vibrio spp. Ten (10) cases of diarrhoeal illness with dehydration (mild to severe) were seen between