No cholera outbreak in Sabah, said Health Authority.

Nov 4, 2015

By Olivia Miwil
olivia@nst.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: The Health authority refuted there was cholera outbreak as circulated in social media group among people here.

The Whatsapp message read “ATT: Confirmed cholera outbreak in Kota Kinabalu. Eat only freshly and well-cooked food. Don't take any cold drink with ice cubes when you're out too”.

The message also stating that Queen Elizabeth hospital here is opening extra ward to treat patients with cholera symptoms.

Sabah health director Dr Christina Rundi replied in text describing those who started the message as “Individual posting (and) creating unnecessary alarm".

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth hospital spokesperson also said there was no confirmation on such outbreak nor the opening of additional ward.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by bacterium Vibrio cholera.

The source of infection usually occurs when faeces of an infected person contaminated water or food. However, it is unlikely to spread directly from one person to another.

Infected persons with symptoms usually suffer with watery diarrhea, vomiting and leg cramps. Rapid loss of body fluid leads to dehydration, shock or even death.

The Health department’s epidemiology bulletin indicated there were 222 cholera cases reported as of Oct 14 for this year.

Source from CDC