Cholera Outbreak due to Raw Seafood Consumption in South Korea, 2016

Abstract

Three cases of cholera occurred in South Korea during a period of three weeks in August 2016. All the cases were associated with the consumption of raw seafood in southern coastal area of South Korea. Epidemiologic investigations were performed to track the spread of cholera, including persons in contact with the cholera patients, seafood, and seawater from the fish tank and marine environments. A microbiological investigation demonstrated that cholera isolated from the three patients and a seawater sample at the Korea Strait showed identical serotype (O1 Ogawa), biotype (El tor), and toxin ( ctx -positive). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis showed that the three clinical strains are identical (100%) and shared 97% identity with the seawater sample.