A cluster of cholera among patients in a Vietnamese district hospital in 2010

Authors

  • Thuan Huu Vo Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • Ninh Hoang Le Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • J. Pekka Nuorti School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
  • Lan Trong Phan Vietnam Field Epidemiology Training Program, Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Nguyen Nhu Tran Minh Vietnam Field Epidemiology Training Program, Hanoi, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.3503

Keywords:

Cholera, outbreak, diarrhoea, infection control

Abstract

On July 20, 2010, three cases of cholera were reported from a district hospital in Ca Mau province, Vietnam. We investigated the likely source and mode of transmission of the outbreak. All hospitals in the province were requested to notify cases of acute watery diarrhoea. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Between July 12 and 22, seven cases with positive culture for Vibrio cholera were identified. Six cases were epidemiologically linked to the index case. Basic infection control practices were not in place at the hospital. Clinicians and public health staff should consider the possibility of nosocomial cholera transmission even in non-endemic areas.

Author Biographies

Thuan Huu Vo, Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Department of Planning and Technical Report

J. Pekka Nuorti, School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland

School of Health Sciences

Nguyen Nhu Tran Minh, Vietnam Field Epidemiology Training Program, Hanoi, Vietnam

Vietnam Field Epidemiology Training Program

Downloads

Published

2013-12-15

How to Cite

1.
Vo TH, Le NH, Nuorti JP, Phan LT, Tran Minh NN (2013) A cluster of cholera among patients in a Vietnamese district hospital in 2010. J Infect Dev Ctries 7:910–913. doi: 10.3855/jidc.3503

Issue

Section

Emerging Problems in Infectious Diseases