Malaysia: Cholera Outbreak

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Canoe

121 hospitalized in cholera outbreak in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- One person has died and 121 others have been hospitalized after an outbreak of cholera near Kuala Lumpur which authorities traced to contaminated food, reports Saturday said.

Health authorities launched a sweep through food outlets in the Klang Valley east of Kuala Lumpur and ordered 120 to close after cholera was traced to meal served at a factory canteen last month, The Sun newspaper reported.

The national news agency, Bernama, reported health officials from Selangor state as saying that a 21-year-old factory technician died May 7, three days after being admitted to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital with cholera.

Bernama said Medical and Health Director Dr. Shahidah Abdul Manaff said 121 other people have been admitted to hospitals in the state with symptoms resembling those of cholera, a highly contagious disease which attacks the intestine of humans and can cause death severe dehydration resulting from diarrhea.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), May 12, 2001

Answers

I thought cholera was transmitted by alga in the ocean.

-- David Williams (DAVIDWILL@prodigy.net), May 13, 2001.

There is a strain of cholera that's present in algae in the ocean, but it's just one form of cholera. For a well documented, well researched discussion, look up cholera in Laurie Garret's book, The Coming Plague.

-- Vicki (smithfox@mind.net), May 13, 2001.

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