Notes from the Field: Vibrio cholerae Serogroup O1, Serotype Inaba — Minnesota, August 2016

Abstract

Hall et al cite that on August 20, 2016, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) was notified of a case of Vibrio cholerae infection. The isolate was identified as serogroup O1, serotype Inaba at MDH. CDC determined that the isolate was nontoxigenic. The patient was a previously healthy woman, aged 43 years, with history of gastric bypass surgery. On August 16, she experienced profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and headache. This outbreak of domestically acquired, nontoxigenic V cholerae infections, likely from shrimp consumption, included the first V cholerae O1 case identified in a nontraveler in Minnesota since active surveillance for Vibrio began in 1996. Since 1996, MDH has detected 26 V cholerae infections, 21 (81%) of which were non-O1, non-O139, and five of which were O1. Among the four O1 type cases identified before the current outbreak, all patients had a recent travel history to Micronesia or India. This outbreak demonstrates the importance of investigating all seafood eaten by patients with vibriosis. In addition, investigators should include nontoxigenic V cholerae as a possible etiology of domestic foodborne outbreaks, particularly when foods eaten include those from V cholerae O1-endemic areas.