The cases found in the UK have been linked to an outbreak in Ethiopia where more than 700 people have died.
The NHS has warned of four telltale signs of a potentially deadly disease to be aware of, with cases reported in the UK. Earlier this month, UK authorities confirmed four cases of cholera, an infection that was common in the Victorian era.
Caused by unclean water, the illness was eradicated in the UK more than 100 years ago. Three of the latest cases were found in people who had returned from Ethiopia, where are ongoing outbreak of cholera started in 2022.
Since the start of this outbreak, a total of 58,381 cholera cases and 726 deaths have been reported in Ethiopia. Alongside the four cases reported in the UK, two have also been detected in Germany in people who had travelled to the African nation, and one in a person who consumed imported holy water.
Travel Health Pro detailed where the affected patients had travelled. It said: “Three UK travellers recently visited Ethiopia, two reporting travel to Amhara, western Ethiopia, with one of these travellers visiting the holy well at Bermel Giorgis. A fourth UK cholera case did not travel, but reported consuming holy water (brought back from Ethiopia by one of the returned travellers) before experiencing symptoms.
“This returned traveller also became ill after consuming the holy water in the UK.” Cholera is a potentially fatal infection which causes severe diarrhoea.
Infection is typically a result of eating or drinking food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria – vibrio cholerae. Travel Health Pro continued: “Cholera is no longer a risk in the United Kingdom (UK), but it is sometimes reported in returning UK travellers.”
According to the NHS, the key symptoms of cholera include:
- Having lots of watery diarrhoea
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Tummy pain
- Dehydration.
Even among tourists, the risk of cholera is very low, with estimates of two to three cases reported per million travellers. There is a vaccine for cholera, but most people do not need it.
The vaccine is usually only recommended if either:
- You’re travelling to an area where cholera is common and you’ll be visiting remote places without access to medical care
- You’re an aid or disaster relief worker going to an area where a cholera outbreak is likely.
To avoid getting ill while travelling in areas where cholera is found, the NHS advises you:
- Do not have ice in your drinks
- Brush your teeth using bottled or boiled water
- Only drink bottled water or tap water that’s been boiled
- Wash your hands with soap and water regularly, especially after using the toilet and before preparing food or eating
- Do not eat uncooked fruit and vegetables (including salads) that you have not washed with bottled or boiled water and prepared yourself
- Do not eat shellfish and seafood
You should see a doctor if you have been in an area where there is cholera and you have severe watery diarrhoea and vomiting, or symptoms of dehydration, such as feeling thirsty or dark yellow and strong-smelling pee.
