European Tourists Infected with Cholera After Visiting Ethiopia
Severe Dehydration May Occur in Case of Infection
Recently, cases of cholera have been reported in Germany and the United Kingdom, with a well promoted as "Seongsu" in a tourist area identified as the suspected source. On the 19th (local time), the British daily Mirror and other foreign media cited an announcement from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), reporting that four cholera cases were confirmed in the UK and three in Germany. According to these reports, two German patients and three British patients contracted cholera after traveling to Ethiopia. It is known that they visited a sacred well called "Beremel Giorgis" in the Qwara region.
This well is promoted on travel websites as a "holy site" offering "healing, spiritual discernment, and divine experiences." Visitors to the site drew and drank the "holy water" for healing purposes, bathed in it, and sometimes took the water home with them. One British patient, who did not travel to Ethiopia, reportedly drank water brought from this well. Cholera is transmitted through water or food, including fruits, vegetables, and seafood, contaminated with the cholera bacterium. The disease causes acute diarrhea, which can lead to severe dehydration and, in extreme cases, death. Fortunately, all of the patients infected in this incident have recovered, and treatment reportedly involved rehydration and antibiotics to alleviate symptoms.
Ethiopia is a representative "water-scarce" country, with more than half of its population lacking access to safe drinking water. Cholera outbreaks have continued since 2022, and there was a surge in cases earlier this year when European tourists visited the country.
Recently, cholera cases have been reported in Germany and the United Kingdom, with the cause believed to be a well promoted as "Seongsu" in a tourist area. On the 19th (local time), the British daily Mirror and other foreign media cited the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) announcement, reporting that four cholera patients were confirmed in the UK and three in Germany. Asia Economy DB
Recently, this sacred well was confirmed to be an actual source of cholera contamination, and it has been identified as the direct cause of infection cases in Europe. Moreover, the cholera bacteria found in this well have been identified as "high-risk strains" with strong resistance to several antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones, trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, beta-lactams, and macrolides, raising concerns about the potential for further transmission.
Meanwhile, cholera was once a terrifying epidemic that claimed countless lives worldwide. However, in the mid-19th century, it was discovered that contaminated water was the main source of outbreaks, making prevention possible. Subsequently, the introduction of fluid therapy reduced the fatality rate to below 1%. Most importantly, the development of antibiotics targeting Vibrio cholerae, the main causative agent of cholera, has significantly reduced the threat of the disease. Still, the "fear of cholera" has not completely disappeared. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 439,724 cases of cholera and 3,432 deaths reported in 30 countries from January to September last year. While the number of cases decreased by 16% compared to 2023, the number of deaths surged by 126% over the same period due to severe collapse of medical infrastructure caused by floods and wars.
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