In Ukraine, the period of enhanced epidemic surveillance for cholera has begun, which traditionally lasts from June to October. At this time, patients with symptoms of severe intestinal infections will be additionally examined for the causative agent of cholera. About this informs press office of the Ministry of Health.
According to data from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), from the beginning of 2025 until May 2, 111,359 cases of cholera were registered in the world, of which 1,562 resulted in death. Cases of the disease are recorded in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Although the risk to travelers is considered low, the threat of the infection being introduced to other countries remains. The Ukrainian surveillance system also takes such cross-border challenges into account.
“Each case of an acute intestinal infection with a severe course is subject to a separate laboratory investigation, especially in the summer season. In each region, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed comprehensive and operational plans for response and diagnosis of suspicions, prepared operational anti-epidemic teams for rapid response and transportation of patients.
At the level of regions, medical facilities for hospitalization of patients suspected of cholera have been identified, which keep an “inexhaustible supply” of medicines – antibiotics, rehydration solutions, disinfectants. Such a system allows timely detection of suspected cases of cholera and, in the event of a threat, to localize an outbreak.” — reported Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin.
Continuous monitoring of cholera continues throughout the year in Ukraine, but in the summer season measures are significantly intensified. If severe or unusual symptoms are found in patients with intestinal infections, doctors will perform specialized laboratory tests for cholera. The regional laboratories of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention are equipped with the necessary equipment and reagents. In addition, specialists are trained every year on the basis of a branch of the Mechnikov Institute on cholera diagnostics and biosafety rules.
In parallel, monitoring of the environment is carried out: samples of water, wastewater, fresh and sea water. In 2024, within the framework of enhanced surveillance, 13,238 people with symptoms of acute intestinal infection were examined – no outbreaks of cholera were detected. Also recorded 9,949 studies of water samples, no evidence of cholera circulation was found.
We will remind: cholera is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae (serogroups O1 or O139), transmitted by the fecal-oral route and spread through water, food or household contact. The main danger is dehydration, which without treatment can lead to fatal consequences.
