Information about cholera...

Posted by M.T. on March 22, 2001 at 15:01:01:

In Reply to: Help!!! I am pregnant & I don't know if iguanas are safe posted by Renee on March 16, 2001 at 09:10:19:

I truly believe that you were told something that was an old-wives tail probably well-intentioned because you are pregnant. When someone is pregnant and has a cat they tell them to get rid of it because of toxiplasmosis, if someone has a reptile they tell them to get rid of it because of salmonella. As you do apparently know, and I applaud you for, if one is responsible these need not be issues. Recently I did a report on diseases for one of my classes, and the following is the information I found from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control:

A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces of an infected person. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. No major outbreaks of this disease have occurred in the United States since 1911. However, sporadic cases occurred between 1973 and 1991, suggesting the possible reintroduction of the organism into the U.S. marine and estuarine environment. The cases between 1973 and 1991 were associated with the consumption of raw shellfish or of shellfish either improperly cooked or recontaminated after proper cooking. In 1991 outbreaks of cholera in Peru quickly grew to epidemic proportions and spread to other South American and Central American countries, including Mexico. Over 340,000 cases and 3,600 deaths have been reported in the Western Hemisphere since January 1991. However, only 24 cases of cholera have been reported in the United States.

As you can see, it's a very rare disease in our country to begin with, and is mainly isolated to areas of the world with poor sewage. It is not a reptile disease, but rather, one which is related to water sources which can contaminate shellfish in these waters. The original vector of transmission is actually livestock excretions which run off into waters. I really hope this helps a little. And I hope you do decide to keep your iguana, because I know it's a great way to get children to learn responsibility and compassion for animals.

Best wishes,
M.T. Bogucki

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: I truly believe that you were told something that was an old-wives tail probably well-intentioned because you are pregnant. When someone is pregnant and has a cat they tell them to get rid of it because of toxiplasmosis, if someone has a reptile they tell them to get rid of it because of salmonella. As you do apparently know, and I applaud you for, if one is responsible these need not be issues. Recently I did a report on diseases for one of my classes, and the following is the information I found from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control: : A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces of an infected person. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. No major outbreaks of this disease have occurred in the United States since 1911. However, sporadic cases occurred between 1973 and 1991, suggesting the possible reintroduction of the organism into the U.S. marine and estuarine environment. The cases between 1973 and 1991 were associated with the consumption of raw shellfish or of shellfish either improperly cooked or recontaminated after proper cooking. In 1991 outbreaks of cholera in Peru quickly grew to epidemic proportions and spread to other South American and Central American countries, including Mexico. Over 340,000 cases and 3,600 deaths have been reported in the Western Hemisphere since January 1991. However, only 24 cases of cholera have been reported in the United States. : As you can see, it's a very rare disease in our country to begin with, and is mainly isolated to areas of the world with poor sewage. It is not a reptile disease, but rather, one which is related to water sources which can contaminate shellfish in these waters. The original vector of transmission is actually livestock excretions which run off into waters. I really hope this helps a little. And I hope you do decide to keep your iguana, because I know it's a great way to get children to learn responsibility and compassion for animals. : Best wishes, : M.T. Bogucki

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