NewsDesk @bactiman63

The Bahamas Ministry of Health and Wellness reported Thursday a confirmed case of cholera in New Providence.

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The patient is a 52-year-old Bahamian man with a travel history. However, local media reports health officials say the man did not travel to Haiti, but he did not give any other details on the patient’s recent travel history.

The patient presented with to the medical facility with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. He was admitted and cholera was confirmed by laboratory testing.

He is currently being treated and in stable condition.

Disease surveillance is monitoring the situation.

The ministry says cholera is not endemic in the Bahamas and the last case was reported in 2017.

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Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera is spread through contaminated food or water.

It usually takes 2-3 days for symptoms to appear after ingesting cholera bacteria, ranging from a few hours to 5 days.

Cholera can cause large amounts of watery diarrhea (described as a rice-water stool), nausea, and vomiting. Rapid loss of body fluids can lead to dehydration, shock, and even death.