The Madrid community confirmed this morning that it had diagnosed its first case of autochthonous cholera since 1979. It was diagnosed in the Community of Madrid, and apparently on a farm in Toledo this case was not uncommon not only in our country, but throughout the industrialized world. So, it seems, it wasn’t a case of cholera in the end.

What happened? The Castilla-La Mancha Government has closed a farm in the state of Toledo after a small patient who tested positive for cholera revealed that he had been drinking water from the property. Diagnosed by the Carlos III Institute in the Community of Madrid, the case triggered all alarms and resulted in closure after proper analysis and detection of cholera on the farm.

what is cholera? It is a disease caused by a bacterium called vibratory cholera) spreads through contaminated water, affecting the intestinal tract and causing severe diarrhea and dehydration. this V. cholera produces a toxin that “causes an increase in the amount of water released by the cells lining the intestines”. This is what causes the disease.

This is exactly what caused the ministry to deny that this was a case of cholera. Infection of minors, in fact, V. cholera. However, there is no trace of toxins. Therefore, according to the estimates of the ministry, it is more correct to talk about “Vibrio gastroenteritis”.

Cholera, which has been one of the most feared diseases of modern societies for centuries, is actually the basis of modern epidemiology researches about this bacterium. Today, however, disease outbreaks are highly localized in areas with inadequate water treatment or in environments of overcrowding, war, and starvation. Therefore, the last autochthonous case in Spain occurred in 1979.

Dangerous? The infection is usually benign and causes few symptoms. However, it can become serious if not followed. About one in 20 infected people may have serious symptoms: severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. All this can lead to a severe hypovolemic shock that can cause muscle problems and eventually death.

Fortunately, cholera has an accessible, simple, and inexpensive treatment: rehydration with oral fluids. Antibiotics may also be used in severe cases, but this is unusual. Otherwise, unlike other diseases, it is transmitted through contaminated water. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare under normal conditions. In other words, once the focus is found, it is very difficult for a general epidemic to occur. However, unlike what happened in one of the last cholera epidemics in Spain, it reminds us that we should not let our guard down.

Image | miguel angel sanz