Cholera – Pakistan

129 lab-confirmed cholera cases have so far been reported in Karachi during the last four months, although provincial health authorities on Tuesday remarked, it did not prove a cholera outbreak.

Actions were being taken to strengthen the surveillance system for cholera and other water borne disease in the city and as well as the rest of the province, and the health education wing had been told to start awareness sessions in high-risk areas.

56 lab-confirmed cholera cases reported so far for April 2022 from South and Central districts of Karachi, 129 confirmed cases of cholera have been reported by six public and private hospitals in Karachi. Mostly children under the age of five were found infected with Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium which causes cholera in humans. Five lab-confirmed cholera cases were reported in January 2022, followed by 14 in February, 54 in March and 56 in the current month till April 25. These 129 cases have been reported from the Aga Khan University Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital, Indus Hospital, Civil Hospital Karachi, Ziauddin Hospitals in North Nazimabad and Keamari, and Kharadar General Hospital.

People are urged to consume water after boiling, wash hands regularly and approach a health facility in case of diarrhea.Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by a bacterial infection. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The main risk is severe dehydration, this happens sometimes within hours.

It is spread mostly by unsafe water and unsafe food that has been contaminated with human feces containing the bacteria. Under-cooked seafood is a common source.

Risk factors for the disease include poor sanitation, not enough clean drinking water, and poverty.

Cholera affects an estimated 3–5 million people worldwide and causes 28.800–130.000 deaths a year. Areas with ongoing risk include Africa and South East Asia, where it occurs in outbreaks.

Descriptions of cholera are found as early as the 5th century BC in Sanskrit.