11/23/2022: Lab Advisory: International Outbreaks of Cholera
Audience: Clinical Laboratories
Level: Laboratory Advisory
Cholera infections continue to occur worldwide, including large outbreaks in Haiti, Malawi, and Syria since early 2022. The outbreak in Haiti began in early October and confirmed cholera cases are spreading across the country.
Although the risk of a travel-associated cholera case is low, CDC recommends that clinical laboratory professionals review cholera diagnosis and detection information.
Clinical laboratory staff who isolate Vibrio cholerae or detect a possible Vibrio cholerae infection using a culture-independent diagnostic test (CIDT) should
- Quickly culture (within 3 days) any CIDT positive specimens from the original specimen on the appropriate media.
- Inform the state public health laboratory staff through standard channels if Vibrio cholerae is detected.
- Send the isolate (or CIDT-positive sample, if unable to culture) to the state public health laboratory using appropriate shipping conditions.
Isolates of confirmed Vibrio cholerae can be submitted to CDC by state public health laboratories as soon as possible (for more information, please refer to CDC Test Code 10119: Vibrio cholerae Identification and Subtyping).
We encourage you to share this message widely with your networks.
Resources
- Cholera Information for Public Health & Medical Professionals
- Guidelines for Submitting Specimens to CDC
- Health Promotion Materials
- Cholera – Chapter 4 – 2020 Yellow Book | Travelers’ Health | CDC
Questions?
- If you are a clinical or public health laboratory professional, contact LOCS.
- For media inquiries, contact the CDC Newsroom.
- For all other questions, contact CDC-INFO.
Thank you,
The Laboratory Outreach Communication System
Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) | Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS)
Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (CSELS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)