Wuhan University in Central China's Hubei Province discovered a cholera case on Saturday, the local center for disease control and prevention (CDC) confirmed on Monday morning, specifying that after treatment the patient has greatly improved and the symptoms have disappeared. No other cases have been found so far, the local CDC added.
While COVID-19 outbreaks are not over in China and the flu has hit provinces in South China, the newly found cholera case has sparked public worries.
On Saturday evening, Wuhan CDC received a report from a local hospital of a case of infectious diarrhea in a postgraduate student at Wuhan University. The patient showed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea accompanied by fever on Friday morning. The student had a history of gastroenteritis, Wuhan University said at a press conference on Monday.
After reviews by the provincial and city CDCs, tests showed the patient was positive for the O139 type of bacteria that causes cholera, while the virulence gene of the case was negative.
After effective diagnosis and treatment, the patient has become stable and his symptoms have disappeared, said the local CDC. The patient was transferred to the People's Hospital of Wuhan University for treatment in isolation, the Wuhan University said on Monday.
The health authority in the city's Wuchang district organized professional institutions to sample, test, track and manage all personnel linked with the case, as well as temporarily seal, disinfect and check all areas connected with the patient.
As of Sunday evening, no new cases were found through rapid detection of 264 connected people, Wuhan University said at Monday's press conference.
All the students living in the same dormitory building with the cholera case have received anal swab tests, the district health commission said.
