FDA has warned individuals with liver disease to refrain from consuming raw or improperly cooked shellfish. Cirrhotic or immunosuppressed individuals may develop severe complications such as septicemia. Methods used to isolate this organism from foods are similar to those used with diarrheic stools. Because many food isolates are nonpathogenic, pathogenicity of all food isolates must be demonstrated. Literature references can be found at the links below.
Sporadic cases continue to occur all year, increasing in frequency during the warmer months.
The cholera epidemic caused by Vibrio cholerae O1 that began in January 1991 has continued to spread in Central and South America. This report updates surveillance findings for both epidemics. This report documents the first case of cholera imported into the United States that was caused by this organism, the newly described toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O139 strain. In September 1981, an isolated case of non-O1 Vibrio cholerae gastroenteritis occurred in a Laconia, New Hampshire, resident following consumption of raw clams harvested from New England coastal waters. Within 26 hours after eating the clams, she developed acute abdominal cramps, followed by fever and bloody diarrhea.